Ryosuke Kikuchi

34-Year-Old Second Baseman2B
 Free Agent  Foreign
2024 Fantasy Outlook
There was no outlook written for Ryosuke Kikuchi in 2024. Check out the latest news below for more on his current fantasy value.
$Kikuchi signed a four-year extension with the Hiroshima Carp of Nippon Professional Baseball in Dec. 2019.
Remaining in Japan
2BFree Agent  F
December 29, 2019
Kikuchi signed a four-year extension with the Hiroshima Carp of Nippon Professional Baseball on Sunday, The Japan Times reports.
ANALYSIS
Kikuchi had until Jan. 2 to sign with a major-league team after being posted by Hiroshima in early December, but he'll instead remain in the NPB. The 29-year-old will continue his career with the Carp, where he has a .271/.315/.391 slash line in eight seasons.
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Will be posted
2BFree Agent  F
November 8, 2019
Kikuchi will be posted by his Japanese club, allowing the second baseman to make his way to North America, Mike Axisa of CBS Sports reports.
ANALYSIS
Kikuchi's calling card is his defense, as he's won seven straight Golden Gloves at second base in Japan. Axisa goes on to speculate about possible fits for Kikuchi, listing the Athletics, Brewers, Diamondbacks, Indians, Nationals and Red Sox.
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Past Fantasy Outlooks
2020
2016
Kikuchi has been a star in Japan for his outstanding defense and briefly attempted to translate those skills to MLB in December 2019. He's seen as a premium glove at second base and could also be a plus defender at shortstop. He's more known for his defense than his bat, however. He hit .261 with just a .719 OPS last season for the Hiroshimi Carp with 13 home runs and 14 stolen bases. He doesn't make exceptional contact (83.5%) or get on base at a high clip (6.6%), which may make his lack of power an issue to win a regular role should he eventually move to MLB. He has had an average of 13.3 home runs the past four seasons, so some of that power could translate to MLB. However, he may only serve as a utility infielder if he moves to MLB. He flirted with moving to MLB before the 2020 season, but chose to remain in Japan instead and signed a four-year contract with the Carp.
Kikuchi was one of Japan's rising infielders, but has taken a step back. He played 2015 on two knees that required offseason surgery, and saw his batting line decline from a blissful .325/.352/.456 to a pedestrian .254/.292/.343; and his defense drop from record-setting other-worldly level to merely excellent. The 2016 season may tell us who the real Kikuchi is, but there is reason to be optimistic.
More Fantasy News
Officially posted
2BFree Agent  F
December 3, 2019
Kikuchi was posted by his NPB club, Hiroshima, on Monday, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports.
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No posting decision yet
2BFree Agent  F
October 30, 2019
While Kikuchi has expressed interest in playing in MLB, his team in Japan, the Hiroshima Carp, have not indicated whether he will be posted this winter, Jon Paul Morosi of MLB.com reports.
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2BFree Agent  F
November 15, 2014
Kikuchi broke out with his glove in 2013, then his bat in 2014, hitting .324/.352/.456. Additionally, Kikuchi set an NPB record in 2014 with 535 defensive assists at 2B.
ANALYSIS
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