Nobuaki Yoshida

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked San Diego Padres #18 prospect in 2002
  Yoshida was just the third Japanese high school player to sign with a U.S. team, following Mets lefthander Juei Ushiromatsu and Red Sox outfielder Kenichiro Kawabata. Those two didn't pan out, while Yoshida seemed on the fast track after a strong debut in 2000. But he never was completely healthy last season. A dental problem cost him two weeks in minor league camp, so he was sent to extended spring training to build up his arm. A sore shoulder knocked him out after five starts at Fort Wayne, and a pectoral injury limited him at short-season Eugene. Yoshida pitches right around 90 mph with his fastball, but enhances the pitch by moving it in and out and hitting his spots. He also throws a curveball, a semiscrewball that runs away from righthanders, and a changeup. He'll get a second shot at low Class A this year.
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  Ranked San Diego Padres #12 prospect in 2001
  The Padres want to increase their efforts on the global market, so they hired former Orioles scouting director Gary Nickels and ex-Braves international super scout Bill Clark last offseason. In January, Nickels signed Yoshida to a bonus in the low six figures. He became the second Japanese player signed out of high school by a major league club, following Mets lefthander Juei Ushiromatsu. Japanese clubs are limited to seven draft picks per year, and many only use three or four because they have to make long-term commitments to their choices. Seibu and Yokohama had told Yoshida they would draft him but ultimately passed on him, as did the other 10 Japanese teams. He excelled in his U.S. debut, and he won the decisive game of the Pioneer League semifinals with six shutout innings. Yoshida is a finesse pitcher with exquisite command, but he also can reach the low 90s with his fastball and is projectable. He has good feel for his changeup and is refining a curveball and screwball. He also has learned English quickly, easing his transition. Very advanced for his age, he could reach high Class A by the end of 2001.

Minor League Top Prospects

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  Ranked Arizona Complex League #12 prospect in 2000
  Yoshida became the second high school player from Japan to sign with a major league club when he inked with the Padres in January. Though he wasn’t picked in Japan's high school draft last fall, he excelled in his first stint in the United States. "He has excellent location on his fastball," Bushong said. "He normally pitches at 89-90 and topped out at 92-94 mph. He's got four pitches but needs to work on his screwball and the command of his curve." Yoshida didn't win in seven Arizona starts but earned a promotion to the Rookie-level Pioneer League, where he won the pivotal third game of Idaho Falls' playoff series against Ogden by pitching six scoreless innings. "He should have been in a higher league from the start," said Kuehl, who thought Yoshida had better stuff and command than Mariners lefthander Cha Baek, who was rated the No. 2 prospect in the AZL in 1999. Baek, a Korean, signed for $1.3 million.

• December, 1999 Scouting Report
  Yoshida became the second high school player from Japan to sign with a major league club when he inked with the Padres in January. Though he wasn’t picked in Japan's high school draft last fall, he excelled in his first stint in the United States. "He has excellent location on his fastball," Bushong said. "He normally pitches at 89-90 and topped out at 92-94 mph. He's got four pitches but needs to work on his screwball and the command of his curve." Yoshida didn't win in seven Arizona starts but earned a promotion to the Rookie-level Pioneer League, where he won the pivotal third game of Idaho Falls' playoff series against Ogden by pitching six scoreless innings. "He should have been in a higher league from the start," said Kuehl, who thought Yoshida had better stuff and command than Mariners lefthander Cha Baek, who was rated the No. 2 prospect in the AZL in 1999. Baek, a Korean, signed for $1.3 million.