Houston Astros pitcher Tatsuya Imai has been sidelined with arm fatigue after just three major league starts.
Imai attributes his injury partly to difficulties adjusting to the American lifestyle, including travel, meal times, and unfamiliar pitching conditions.
The Astros, already hit by multiple injuries, are struggling in the AL West, while Imai’s adjustment highlights challenges faced by players moving from Japan to MLB.
Why do some Japanese pitchers thrive in MLB while others, like Imai, falter so quickly?
Will Imai have to abandon his Japanese pitching routine to succeed in American baseball?
Are MLB's slicker baseballs and harder mounds the true culprits behind Imai's struggles?
How can MLB teams better prepare international stars for off-field 'American lifestyle' challenges?
Is Tatsuya Imai's $54M contract already the Astros' biggest regret of 2026?