Just In: Marlins Head Coach Skip Schumake Announces Major signing
Oz Ocampo, assistant general manager of Arlins, has a track record of uncovering undiscovered treasures across the globe. With his most recent discovery, he hopes the same thing occurs.
On May 17, the Marlins signed 21-year-old Raisei Nakamura to a Minor League deal. This is the second straight international signing period that the team has taken a shot on a right-handed pitcher from Japan (Hiroshi Takahashi in 2023). Just two members of the team, righty Junichi Tazawa (’18) and outfielder Ichiro Suzuki (’15–17), are Japanese-born and have played in the major leagues.
This also represents the beginning of a deliberate attempt by new baseball operations president Peter Bendix to increase the Marlins’ global prominence outside of Latin America.
“One thing Peter asked me when he first joined the team was, ‘What can we do to start and expand our efforts in the Pacific Rim?'” Ocampo remembered. We had a lengthy conversation about it during Spring Training. I therefore invested a great deal of time in reviewing my prior overseas contacts, and once that process got underway, we learned about Raisei.
After speaking with witnesses to Nakamura’s pitch, Ocampo watched video. It looked good to him. The foreign section of the Marlins did as well.
【MLBマイアミ・マーリンズ入団記者会見】
-中村来生選手🐬アジアンブリーズは本日5月20日（月）、中村来生選手のMLB球団マイアミ・マーリンズとの契約についての入団記者会見を都内で行いました。https://t.co/9Vj1gjEZGz
— ASIAN BREEZE / アジアンブリーズ 🌪️ (@breeze_asian) May 20, 2024
We are excited to announce the signing of 21 year old Japanese RHP Raisei Nakamura to a minor league contract with the Miami Marlins. Raisei is 6'3" 170 lbs with a long frame, physical projection, athleticism, arm speed, and a solid four-pitch mix. Welcome to the @Marlins org! pic.twitter.com/g4YHhjkHV0
— Oz Ocampo (@OzOcampo) May 20, 2024
According to Ocampo, the 6-foot-3 Nakamura has a long frame, physical projection, athleticism, arm speed and a solid four-pitch mix (fastball, curveball, slider and changeup). His velocity had reached 90 mph with a 2,400 rpm spin rate. Both have room to grow under the organization’s tutelage.
Originally drafted by Hiroshima, Nakamura was released after allowing eight runs in six innings across eight appearances from 2022-23 while facing competition more than six years older than him. So Nakamura signed with the independent ballclub, Asian Breeze, which plays teams in Arizona, with the aim of signing a professional contract with an MLB team. His six scoreless innings garnered attention.
The combination of arsenal, potential physical development, stateside experience and intangibles convinced Ocampo to fly to Japan to meet with Nakamura. After spending time with him, it became an easy decision to sign him.
“He works hard,” Ocampo said. “He’s very respectful. He’s humble but also excited about the opportunity. The fact that he’s traveled to the states, like all those attributes, gave a lot of confidence that he could come take on this challenge.”
Ocampo is no stranger to finding late bloomers. He played a role in signing Astros pitchers Luis Garcia, Cristian Javier, José Urquidy, Framber Valdez and Ronel Blanco, none of whom were heralded in their respective signing classes. He sees parallels between them and Nakamura, who are considered older pitchers in the international realm.
Ocampo claims that the 6-foot-3 Nakamura possesses a strong four-pitch mix (fastball, curveball, slider, and changeup), a lengthy frame, physical projection, athleticism, and arm speed. He was travelling at ninety miles per hour at a spin rate of 2,400 rpm. Under the guidance of the organisation, both have room to expand.
Nakamura, who was originally selected by Hiroshima, was cut loose in 2022–2023 after giving up eight runs in six innings in eight games against opponents who were almost six years older than him. Thus, Nakamura signed with Asian Breeze, an independent ballclub that fields teams in Arizona, in an attempt to secure a professional contract with an MLB team. His six innings without allowing a run were noteworthy.
Ocampo decided to come to Japan to meet with Nakamura because of his armament, potential for physical development, experience living in the United States, and intangibles. It was simple to decide to sign him after getting to know him.
Ocampo remarked, “He works hard.” He is really considerate. Though modest, he is enthusiastic about the chance. Along with all those qualities, the fact that he had visited the United States offered me great confidence that he could rise to the occasion.
Ocampo has experience with late bloomers. Astros pitchers Luis Garcia, Cristian Javier, José Urquidy, Framber Valdez, and Ronel Blanco were signed by him; none of them were well regarded in their signing classes. He draws comparisons between them and Nakamura, who is seen as an older pitcher internationally.
