Astros' RHP Tatsuya Imai blames inability to 'adjust to the American lifestyle' while discussing arm fatigue
So far in his MLB career, Imai has mentioned difficulties with the timing of his meals, the Seattle weather, the hardness of a mound, the texture of the MLB ball and the slope of MLB mounds.
Tatsuya Imai’s career with the Houston Astros has so far consisted of a bad start, a good start and a start that landed him on the 15-day IL with arm fatigue. That might not be what the Astros had in mind when they guaranteed him $54 million out of Japan . Now sidelined until at least late April, the right-hander spoke to reporters via interpreter on Tuesday and has some rather interesting things to say when discussing his arm fatigue.
Per The Athletic’s Chandler Rome, Imai admitted having trouble adjusting to the American lifestyle in baseball and outside of baseball. When asked for an example, Imai reportedly pointed to when and where the players eat compared to how teams in Japan operate. Asked what has been difficult outside of baseball, Imai replied through an interpreter: "For example, the travel is different from Japan.
The timing when the players eat. In Japan, when they get back to the hotel, they eat their dinner. Here, the players eat at the stadium.
” https://t. co/K3YV83NMrF — Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) April 14, 2026 It’s unclear how eating in the Astros clubhouse can cause excess arm fatigue. It’s also quite possible something is being lost in translation here as well.