There are times when Tadahito Iguchi will look like a rookie by swinging wildly and missing a high and outside fastball.
But more often Iguchi has played like a veteran with the experience of eight professional seasons in Japan. More important, he has learned to adjust with impressive results.
Two months into the regular season, Iguchi, 30, has gone from being a question mark to the White Sox’s most dependable player.
And a 2005 American League Rookie of the Year candidate.
“I don’t really think about personal awards too much,” Iguchi said through an interpreter. “With this being my first year, I just want to do my best, and if we have good results, we’ll all be happy.”
Iguchi has batted over .300 since April 26, when he had three hits at Oakland. That also served as a night when Iguchi would have to accept the tougher style of play in the United States.
Iguchi suffered a right knee bruise when the Athletics’ Scott Hatteberg slid into him trying to break up a double play in the second inning.
Since then, Iguchi has become more aware of the more aggressive style that wasn’t always prevalent with the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks of the Japanese Pacific League.
He also has gained a big fan in Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim announcer Rex Hudler, a former major-league infielder who spent the 1993 season with the Yakult Swallows of the Japanese Central League before returning to the U.S. and becoming a more polished player.
“The hardest thing for me [in Japan] was guys not sliding hard into second,” Hudler said. “I’m sure he’s getting used to the physical play here.
“I used to tell the American players [in Japan] like Alonzo Powell, Lloyd Moseby and Jesse Barfield to slide hard and come get me.”
Iguchi downplayed the adjustments he has had to make since coming over from Japan. His wife and daughter have joined him, and he’s getting more familiar with Chicago.
But on the field, Hudler believes playing in Japan has helped Iguchi become a more effective player for the role he’s asked to fill with the Sox as their No. 2 hitter.
“He’s going to be successful like Ichiro [Suzuki],” Hudler said. “They’re well-schooled in fundamentals like we should be here. They teach it as soon as they start playing baseball. They learn how to hit behind runners.
“Every one of those guys has an inside-out swing because the parks are so small they can hit [home runs] that way.”
The last two of Iguchi’s four home runs have gone to the opposite field, including a shot against Texas’ Nick Regilio in his first pinch-hit appearance in the States on May 16, and another off the Cubs’ Mark Prior six days later.
Iguchi has made the most of his on-the-job training in the batter’s box because he is facing pitchers for the first time and trying to absorb information for subsequent at-bats.
“In that sense, you can say I’m adjusting,” Iguchi said. “It’s part of any learning experience.”
His eight years as a Japanese pro prepared Iguchi well for his transition.
“There are six teams in each league (including the Central League), and they play each other 128 times,” Hudler said. “They’re used to adjusting because they play each other so often.
“They’ll find a way to get you out. They’ll pound you and pound you until you adjust, then they will pitch you a different way. Their game will make you better for this game.”
Hudler believes manager Ozzie Guillen has maximized Iguchi’s skills by batting him second.
“He has a speed guy (Scott Podsednik) in front of him,” Hudler said. “Last year Iguchi hit [24] home runs, so it’s perfect. He can bunt, and you see how he can hit the opposite way. He has great skills. You can’t ask for anything better.”
Iguchi has more than held his own despite not having the preseason rookie hype that Tampa Bay’s Scott Kazmir, Oakland’s Nick Swisher, the Angels’ Dallas McPherson and Seattle’s Jeremy Reed received.
The biggest issue may end up being whether voters from the Baseball Writers Association of America evaluate Iguchi as a rookie or slight him because of his past professional experience in Japan.
BBWAA members were implored to evaluate each candidate fairly after the New York Yankees’ Hideki Matsui, a Japanese League veteran, finished second in the 2003 AL voting to Kansas City’s Angel Berroa.
“Sure, [Iguchi] is a rookie, but … ,” Hudler said.
“The voters will look at him seriously because of his production if he stays healthy.”
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Rookie or not?
The case for
Iguchi qualifies under BBWAA Rookie of the Year rules that state a player must not have more than 130 at-bats or 50 innings pitched in the majors during a previous season or seasons and hasn’t accumulated more than 45 days on a major-league roster during the 25-man player limit, excluding any time on the disabled list.
Iguchi wasn’t allowed to play in the U.S. until he qualified for free agency in Japan.
The case against
Iguchi had played 894 games and had 3,175 at-bats in a high-level professional league in Japan.
— Mark Gonzales
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mgonzales@tribune.com
