Which MLB Import will have the most success in their 2012 debut?

[nebo86]

The upcoming season will have some high profile Imports making their MLB Debuts. Most of the notable Imports are from Japan's NPB and a Cuban home run champion. Which 2012 MLB Import will have the most success?

[yankeebiscuitfan]

Hard to tell, but I go with Yoenis Cespedes.

[dabynsky]

Hard call, but I have to go with Darvish right now. Cespedes might do it, but the ballpark he plays half his games in isn't exactly conducive for offense. That and the level of competition he faced was quite a bit lower than what he has to deal with in the Majors. NPB is the best international league out there and Darvish absolutely dominated it for years. I am guessing he is the real deal.

[nebo86]

Here are some statistics to help with your decision:

Yu Darvish (25)- Texas Rangers (Japanese/Iranian)



2012 Spring Training:
15 IP, 3.60 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 21 K

2011 NPB w/ Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters:
232 IP, 1.44 ERA 0.83 WHIP, 276 K

Hisashi Iwakuma (30)- Seattle Mariners (Japanese)



2012 Spring Training:
12 IP, 3.75 ERA, 1.75 WHIP, 9 K

2011 NPB w/ Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles:
119 IP, 2.42 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 90 K

Wei-Yin Chen (26)- Baltimore Orioles (Taiwanese)



2012 Spring Training:
20 IP, 3.60 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 9 K

2011 NPB w/ Chunichi Dragons:
164.2 IP, 2.68 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, 94 K

Norichika Aoki (30)- Milwaukee Brewers (Japanese)



2012 Spring Training:
59 AB, .305 AVG, .349 OBP, .458 SLG, 4 SO

2011 NPB w/ Tokyo Yakult Swallows:
583 AB, .292 AVG, .358 OBP, .360 SLG, 55 SO

Yoenis Cespedes (26)- Oakland Athletics (Cuban)



2012 Spring Training:
25 AB, .200 AB, .286 OBP, .360 SLG, 7 SO

2010-11 SNC w/ Granma Stallions:
354 AB, .333 AVG, .424 OBP, .667 SLG, 40 SO

2012 Oakland Athletics:
6 AB, .333 AVG, .429 OBP, 1.000 SLG, 3 SO

[Cathy]

Don't forget that the Athletics and Mariners have already played 2 regular season games (albeit against each other)

[nebo86]

Don't forget that the Athletics and Mariners have already played 2 regular season games (albeit against each other)

I added Cespedes' regular season stats, however Iwakuma has yet to pitch.

[Old Sweater]

I voted Yu Darvish. Good club to help him and the little I seen of him in a ST game, I really liked. Not that I have a trained eye for baseball but a few of his pitches really moved. Plus I can spell his name.

[Old Sweater]

Cespedes is one strong looking young man!

[nebo86]

Darvish and Cespedes have received a lot of media attention and are too easy for me to choose. Iwakuma may benefit from spacious Safeco Field, but run support is always an issue with the Mariners. Instead, I am going with a dark horse, a veteran of NPB, Norichika Aoki. He possesses Ichiro type skills, let's see if those skills translate into Ichiro type stats.

[daddies4angels]

I picked Cespdes cause i think he hit around .270 with 20 HR 70 RBI. Yu im not sold on in TEX. A big time hitter park