Blue Jays trade Kikuchi to Astros
The Toronto Blue Jays have traded left-hander Yusei Kikuchi to the Houston Astros.
July 29, 2024
Official Toronto Blue Jays News Release
The Toronto Blue Jays have acquired RHP Jake Bloss, OF Joey Loperfido, and INF Will Wagner from the Houston Astros in exchange for LHP Yusei Kikuchi.
Bloss, 23, has made three starts for the Astros this season and a combined 13 starts between High-A Asheville, double-A Corpus Christi, and triple-A Sugar Land, posting a 1.64 ERA in 66 total Minor League innings, with an 8.5% walk rate, a 25.6% strikeout rate, a 0.79 WHIP, and a .140 opponent batting average. The 6-foot-3, 223-pound right-hander was selected by the Astros in the third round of the 2023 First-Year Player Draft out of Georgetown University, six weeks after being named the Big East Pitcher of the Year. The Greensboro, N.C., native has made a total of 20 career appearances (19 starts) in the Astros’ system, posting a 1.91 ERA in 84 2/3 innings with 33 walks, 86 strikeouts, a 0.94 WHIP, and a .164 opponent batting average.
Loperfido, 25, has played in 38 contests with the Astros this season, batting .236 with five doubles, a triple, two home runs, and 16 RBIs. The outfielder has also suited up for 39 games with triple-A Sugar Land, hitting .272 with 21 extra-base hits and 33 RBI while posting a .933 OPS. The native of Philadelphia, Pa., was selected by the Astros in the seventh round of the 2021 First-Year Player Draft out of Duke University. The 6-foot-3, 220-pound left-handed hitter was named the Astros’ Minor League Player of the Year in 2023, as well as a Postseason All-Star in the Texas League. Loperfido has appeared in 290 career minor league games across four levels in Houston’s system, recording a slash line of .281/.377/.496 with 123 extra-base hits and 186 RBIs.
Wagner, 26, has spent the 2024 campaign at triple-A Sugar Land, playing in 70 games while batting .307 with 13 doubles, two triples, five home runs, 41 RBIs, a 16.7% walk rate, a 10.2% strikeout rate, a .424 OBP, an .853 OPS, and a 122 wRC+. The 5-foot-11, 210-pound left-handed hitter was selected by the Astros in the 18th round of the 2021 First-Year Player Draft out of Liberty University. The Houston, Tex., native, and son of former Major Leaguer Billy Wagner, has made a total of 283 Minor League appearances, hitting .295 with 60 doubles, eight triples, 24 home runs, 146 RBIs, 172 walks, a .399 OBP, and an .836 OPS, also earning an Arizona Fall League All-Star selection in 2022.
Kikuchi, 33, made 22 starts for the Blue Jays in 2024, going 4-9 with a 4.75 ERA in 115 2/3 innings, recording a 1.34 WHIP and a 26.2% strikeout rate. The Morioka, Japan, native made his MLB debut with the Seattle Mariners in 2019 after spending parts of nine seasons in the NPB, eventually signing with the Blue Jays in the 2021 offseason. The 6-foot, 210-pound left-hander has made 156 career appearances (144 starts) across six MLB seasons with the Mariners and Blue Jays, going 36-46 while posting a 4.72 ERA in 749 2/3 combined innings with 761 strikeouts, a 1.38 WHIP, and a .262 opponent batting average, earning an All-Star selection in 2021. Was named the Toronto Chapter of the BBWAA’s Most Improved Player following the 2023 season after setting career highs in wins (11), innings pitched (167 2/3), strikeouts (181), ERA (3.86), and WHIP (1.27).