Yuki Matsui Isn't Expecting to Be Padres' Closer Come Opening Day

The new reliever isn't worried about roles to start the season.

The San Diego Padres have signed two major league free agents this winter. The first? Star Japanese closer Yuki Matsui. 

Matsui signed a five-year contract with the Padres in December. Despite his lack of name recognition in the United States, the left-hander brings major experience with him.

The Padres' goal this offseason was to improve their bullpen, and adding Matsui ought to help. With the team expected to lose closer Josh Hader in free agency, the front office knew it needed more arms to hold leads late in games.

However, Matsui isn't guaranteed the ninth inning. Without Hader — whose insistence on being used exclusively in ninth-inning save situations was sometimes a sore spot in 2023 — perhaps no one will enter the 2024 season as the Padres' dedicated closer. 

During his introductory press conference video call, Matsui said he would merely do his job and let everything happen as it does.

“The fact of the matter is I haven’t (thrown) a single pitch in the big leagues yet, so maybe it’s not realistic to say I’ll be pitching in the ninth inning as we start the season. But I like to just go in there when given the opportunity, get outs and sort of build trust from the team and my teammates, and hopefully I’m in one of those high-leverage situations to pitch in games.”

Per Yuki Matsui via The San Diego Union-Tribune

Last season in NPB, Matsui was excellent. He posted an ERA of 1.57 over 59 games, notching 39 saves in the 57.1 innings that he pitched. Matsui also struck out 72 batters compared to only 13 walks.

Over his 10-year professional career, Matsui has dominated in NPB. In 501 career games in Japan's best league, he put up an ERA of 2.40 and became the youngest player ever to reach the 200-save mark.

The Padres seem to have gotten a good one. Matsui gives them more options to use late in games this season, and perhaps more leeway around when to use him than Hader. 

Soon, the only question will be if he can execute on the mound in a new league and find his place in the bullpen — wherever that place may be.