Tsuyoshi Wada will make his big league debut versus the Reds today. (Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports)
CINCINNATI — Left-hander Tsuyoshi Wada will make his major league debut during Tuesday’s day-night doubleheader against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park, made possible by the considerable improvement Wada is showing since spring training.
“In the spring, he was elevated a little bit, outside the zone,” Cubs manager Rich Renteria said. “Now he’s actually been down in the zone, working both sides of the plate. He’s been very effective, which is really good to hear.”
After posting an 8.38 ERA with nine earned runs allowed in 9 2/3 innings in the spring, Wada has been sharp at Triple-A Iowa, going 9-5 with a 2.66 ERA. He has 105 strikeouts and only 26 walks in 101 2/3 innings. His strikeout total ranks second in the Pacific Coast League.
It is Wada’s first season in the Cubs organization after he spent last year in the Orioles’ system following a nine-year career in the Japan Pacific League. Wada, 33, has a chance to fill a void left in the Chicago rotation following the trade of Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel to the Oakland A’s.
