Boston Red Sox’s Hirokazu Sawamura has 6 walks in 1.1 innings; Could he be adjusting to larger, more slippery ball, smaller strike zone?
Updated Mar 15, 2021;
Posted Mar 15, 2021
Red Sox's Hirokazu Sawamura works during the fifth against the Rays on Monday. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
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Boston Red Sox reliever Hirokazu Sawamura of Japan has allowed six walks in two Grapefruit League outings (1 ⅓ innings).
The righty recorded just two outs against the Rays on Monday, allowing one run, one hit and three walks while striking out two. Boston lost 3-2 at Charlotte Sports Park.
Sawamura averaged only 2.7 walks per nine innings (868 ⅓ innings) in Nippon Professional Baseball. So what’s causing his early issues with command?