Dodgers manager highly praises Tatsuya Imai! His slider quality surpasses Yoshinobu Yamamoto

Dave Roberts, the manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers, recently gave his opinion on Seibu Lions pitcher Tatsuya Imai, who is entering MLB via the posting system, in an exclusive ABEMA interview on "Good Morning Roberts." Roberts highly praised Imai’s pitching mechanics and velocity, making a detailed comparison with the Dodgers’ Japanese ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto, even stating that Imai’s slider is of superior quality, expressing confidence in his potential MLB success.

After closely reviewing Imai’s game footage, Roberts was full of praise for his fastball quality. “His fastball is excellent, with a quick arm action and strong tailing movement,” Roberts analyzed. “He throws a high-quality, vertically dropping slider with effortless and stable mechanics that look very dynamic. It’s clear he pitches with great confidence, and I believe he will make an impact in the Major Leagues.”

When asked if Imai resembles his prized player Yamamoto, Roberts offered a professional perspective. “Both are similar in height (around 178-180 cm), but their pitching styles differ slightly. I think Yamamoto has better control and a superior forkball,” Roberts elaborated on their differences: “Imai’s fastball has a tailing action, whereas Yamamoto’s is straighter. However, Imai’s slider is better than Yamamoto’s. Overall, they are different types of pitchers.”

At 27, Tatsuya Imai has achieved double-digit wins for three consecutive years in Nippon Professional Baseball and has been the ace for the Seibu Lions in recent seasons. He officially applied for the posting system this offseason to challenge baseball’s highest level, and is expected to spark a bidding war among multiple MLB teams. Roberts’ high praise that Imai’s slider surpasses Yamamoto’s undoubtedly adds to his value and buzz.