Takeichi Ohayashi
Where did he come from?
Originally from Hokkaido, Japan, Takeichi was drafted by Edmonton in the first round as the fifth overall pick in 2035. Though he had some skill at 2B, he was almost exclusively a first baseman after his first season of pro ball. He was traded to the Talons in May of 2042 for reliever Alexandre Renard. In his first full season with the Talons in 2043, the speedy, defensive-minded first baseman performed well.
How did he do this season?
Ohayashi's role this season was clouded by the Talons' acquisition of first baseman Tony Hernandez. While it was portrayed as a platoon arrangement, Ohayashi does not have any split weaknesses as a switch hitter. His mood soured. As the season wore on, Hernandez was clearly not performing well, and Takeichi regained the full time job. However, he never got going, and only recorded 0.8 WAR in 119 games, slashing .263/.318/.424 while earning a career high Zone Rating of +7.1.
What's going to happen to him?
With a projected arbitration award of 800k, it's pretty clear that Ohayashi will be the starting 1B for the Talons in 2045, as Hernandez' team option is unlikely to be picked up. With speed and defense at an unlikely position, and a leadership role in the clubhouse, Takeichi's future appears secure as long as he can maintain an OPS of close to .800.
Rating: C
