Kei Igawa

1. Overview

Kei Igawa (井川 慶_{Igawa Kei}^Japanese, born July 13, 1979) is a former Japanese left-handed pitcher and current baseball analyst and commentator. Throughout his career, he achieved significant success in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) with the Hanshin Tigers and Orix Buffaloes, contributing to two Central League pennants for the Tigers in 2003 and 2005. He earned numerous individual accolades in Japan, including the prestigious Eiji Sawamura Award, the Central League MVP, and multiple strikeout titles. Igawa holds the distinction of being the last pitcher in the Central League to achieve 20 wins in a single season, a feat accomplished in 2003.

His career also included a highly anticipated but ultimately challenging stint in Major League Baseball (MLB) with the New York Yankees. Despite a substantial contract and high expectations, he largely played in the minor leagues due to command issues and what he described as a lack of trust and opportunities from the team. After his MLB period, he returned to NPB and later played in independent leagues before transitioning into media roles. Igawa is known for his unique pitching mechanics and his personal interests, including video games and shogi. Though he has not formally announced his retirement from playing, he remains actively involved in baseball as an analyst.

2. Early Life and Background

Kei Igawa was born on July 13, 1979, in Ōarai^Japanese, Higashiibaraki District, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan. He began playing baseball in elementary school with the Ōarai Baseball Sports Youth Team. During his elementary school years, he pitched right-handed but continued to practice throwing with his right hand in high school to maintain body balance. Even after turning professional, he would return to Ōarai during the offseason to hold baseball clinics for local elementary and junior high school students.

Attending Ibaraki Prefectural Mito Commercial High School, Igawa received guidance from Minoru Hashimoto. In his third year, during a spring prefectural tournament game against Ryūgasaki Daiichi High School, he achieved a perfect game with 18 strikeouts through seven innings, though it was considered an unofficial record. However, during the summer, he suffered from lower back pain, severely limiting his pitching opportunities. Despite this, he pitched in the prefectural tournament final against Ibaraki Higashi High School at Mito Civic Stadium after receiving a pain-killing injection, but he struggled, allowing four runs due to his own errors, leading to a loss.

Although his high school team did not advance to the National High School Baseball Championship, Igawa's reputation preceded him, earning him the nickname "Doctor K of the East" and being hailed as one of the "Big Three left-handed high school pitchers" alongside Tomoya Kawaguchi and Atsushi Nomi. In the 1997 Nippon Professional Baseball draft, he was selected as the second overall pick by the Hanshin Tigers. His scout was Toshiyuki Kikuchi. The Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters had also considered drafting him but opted against it due to his history of lower back pain in high school. During his high school years, Igawa also acquired practical qualifications, earning a second-grade Bookkeeping certificate and a third-grade Practical English Proficiency Test certification.

3. Professional Career

Kei Igawa's professional baseball career spanned both Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) and Major League Baseball (MLB), marked by periods of dominant performance in Japan and significant struggles in the United States, followed by a return to Japanese independent leagues.

3.2. Major League Baseball (2007-2011)

Kei Igawa's tenure with the New York Yankees was marked by high expectations stemming from his posting fee and contract, which quickly gave way to struggles, minor league assignments, and contractual disputes.

3.2.1. MLB Transition and Initial Struggles (2007)

Igawa made his highly anticipated MLB debut on April 7, 2007, against the Baltimore Orioles at Yankee Stadium. He allowed 7 earned runs on 8 hits, 4 walks/hit batters, and 2 home runs in 5 innings, but received a no-decision due to Alex Rodriguez's walk-off grand slam. His struggles with command persisted, leading to a move to the bullpen. He later earned relief wins against the Cleveland Indians and Boston Red Sox. A notable performance came on April 28 against the Red Sox when he entered the game in the first inning after starting pitcher Jeff Karstens suffered a broken leg. Igawa pitched six scoreless innings in relief, allowing only two hits and striking out six batters, earning a standing ovation and his second MLB win in the Yankees' 3-1 victory.

Despite this promising relief outing, the Yankees identified flaws in his mechanics. On May 7, he was optioned to the Class A Tampa Yankees in the Florida State League to work with pitching coaches Nardi Contreras and Billy Connors. He reportedly made progress with his mechanics and pitch location in Tampa and was subsequently called up to the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees. Igawa returned to the MLB rotation on June 22, 2007, against the San Francisco Giants, allowing two earned runs in 4.2 innings. On July 27, 2007, he was again demoted to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. In August 2007, the San Diego Padres claimed him off waivers, expressing strong interest in acquiring him by taking on his full salary. However, the Yankees recalled him without a trade, reportedly demanding a share of the posting fee paid for him. Igawa returned to the Yankees in September 2007 when rosters expanded, pitching in relief and making one more start where he threw 5 scoreless innings but received no decision. He finished his tumultuous rookie MLB season with a 2-3 record, a 6.25 ERA, and a 1.67 WHIP. Despite these struggles, many observers believed he could succeed with another team, particularly in the National League.

3.2.2. Minor League Assignments and Contractual Issues (2008-2011)

In 2008, Igawa failed to make the Yankees' roster out of spring training due to his previous struggles, and he began the season in Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. He was briefly called up on May 9 to replace Ian Kennedy, starting against the Detroit Tigers, but allowed 6 runs on 11 hits in just 3 innings, taking the loss. He was demoted five days later. He made one more appearance in June, pitching one scoreless inning against the New York Mets, but was sent back down the next day. On July 26, 2008, Igawa cleared waivers and was removed from the Yankees' 40-man roster. Despite his consistent performance in the minor leagues, where he posted a 14-6 record with a 3.45 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, earning a spot on the Triple-A All-Star Team, he could not secure a consistent MLB role. In the offseason, Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman publicly stated that acquiring Igawa was a "failure" and even suggested he switch to a sidearm delivery, which Igawa declined.

In 2009, Igawa received a non-roster invitation to spring training, a unique situation for a player with a guaranteed contract. He pitched 15.1 innings with 1 earned run but struggled with command, posting a 5.35 walks per nine innings (BB/9) rate, and was reassigned to minor league camp on March 23, starting another season in Scranton. He had a strong first half with a 9-4 record, 4.04 ERA, and 1.24 WHIP, but faltered in the second half, finishing with a 10-8 record, 4.15 ERA, and 1.41 WHIP. Despite leading the team in wins, strikeouts (105), and ERA in 2009, he made no MLB appearances. On July 27, he set a Scranton/Wilkes-Barre franchise record for most career wins with a 2-1 victory over the Columbus Clippers. In December, he disclosed that he was applying for a green card to remain in the U.S. That same month, the New York Post infamously ranked him as the worst professional athlete in New York sports over the past decade. During 2008 and 2009, Brian Cashman reportedly attempted twice to trade Igawa back to Japanese teams, directly telling Igawa that his abilities were not suited for MLB and that a trade would relieve the Yankees' financial burden. However, Igawa refused both times, preferring to stay in the U.S. and fight for an MLB spot.

Igawa was again a non-roster invitee to spring training in 2010. However, after pitching 2.2 innings in relief with 5 earned runs, a 16.87 ERA, and a 1.88 WHIP, he was again cut and sent to Triple-A on March 13. He performed solidly as a starter in Scranton, with a 3.96 ERA and 1.24 WHIP in 10 starts, but struggled in relief appearances. He did not pitch in MLB for the second consecutive year. In the offseason, after obtaining his green card, Igawa expressed his desire to continue playing in MLB even after his contract with the Yankees expired.

In 2011, Igawa began the season in the minor leagues. Following the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami which affected his hometown of Ōarai, he briefly returned to Japan on March 14 but was back in the U.S. by March 20, starting the season with the Yankees' Double-A affiliate, the Trenton Thunder. He made occasional appearances for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, including one start on April 21, and on June 12, he was promoted back to Scranton, where he made his 73rd Triple-A start for the Yankees organization, tying a franchise record. However, due to injuries on the Trenton Thunder, he was sent back to Double-A on June 17, and then returned to Scranton again on June 26, only to be demoted again after two starts and placed on the disabled list with left elbow soreness. He returned in mid-August. For the season, he posted a 1-0 record with 1 save, a 1.90 ERA, and a 1.01 WHIP in 10 relief appearances in the minors, but a 2-2 record with a 4.72 ERA and a 1.57 WHIP in 10 starts. Over his five years in the Yankees' minor league system, he accumulated a 36-25 record with 1 save, a 3.83 ERA, and 419 strikeouts in 107 appearances (83 starts).

Reflecting on his five years in the U.S., Igawa stated that he "lost nothing; everything has become my blood and flesh," indicating that his minor league experience was not entirely negative. In a 2017 interview, he acknowledged that he was a "frog in a well," having realized the significant gap in ability between himself and top MLB players that effort alone couldn't bridge. He desired to pitch in MLB, calling the experience a valuable learning opportunity. However, he also claimed that his lack of success in MLB was due to the Yankees' low trust in him and insufficient scouting during his acquisition, leading to lost opportunities after a few poor outings. In an April 2021 appearance on Koji Uehara's official YouTube channel, Igawa asserted that the Yankees had "shelved" him, claiming they "forced him to change to a sidearm or submarine delivery" and that his success in the minor leagues (e.g., leading Triple-A in wins in 2008) was "not properly evaluated" due to a "label" placed on him by the team, preventing his MLB promotion. He also denied rumors at the time that he refused to become a reliever, clarifying that while he preferred starting in the minors, he would pitch in any role in MLB.

3.3. Return to Nippon Professional Baseball (2012-2015)

On March 28, 2012, Igawa announced on his official website that he would be joining the Orix Buffaloes of NPB, marking his return to Japanese baseball after six years. The move reunited him with his former Hanshin Tigers manager, Akihito Okada, who was then managing Orix. He retained his jersey number "29," the same number he wore with the Tigers and Yankees. He was registered with the first team on May 9 and started that day's game against the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks at Hotto Motto Field Kobe, making his first NPB first-team appearance in 2,032 days. However, he exited the game after just 3.2 innings and 62 pitches due to a right thigh cramp, taking the loss. On July 11, he secured his first win in Japan since October 16, 2006, pitching 8 innings and allowing 1 run against the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles. He followed this with another win on July 26 against Rakuten and pitched 7 scoreless innings against the Saitama Seibu Lions on August 2, but strained his left oblique during that outing. While he had recorded speeds in the high 140s km/h during his Hanshin days, his average fastball velocity in 2012 dropped to 85 mph ^{(137 km/h)}, making pitching more challenging. He then suffered two consecutive outings where he allowed 8 runs each, leading to his de-registration on August 16. He returned to the first team on August 31, achieving two consecutive quality starts, but took losses in both. On September 14, while starting against Rakuten, his left oblique pain recurred, forcing him out after one inning, which ended his season. In his first year back in Japan, he finished with a 2-7 record and a 4.65 ERA in 12 starts. On October 30, he underwent surgery to remove loose cartilage and bone spurs from his left elbow, an issue he had experienced before joining Orix.

In 2013, Igawa continued to experience discomfort in his lower back during rehabilitation from his elbow surgery, delaying his return until late May. From then until early August, he started 9 games, achieving a 3-3 record with a strong 2.59 ERA. However, he was sent back to the minor leagues in August and did not return to the first team for the rest of the season due to team circumstances.

He started the 2014 season strongly in spring training, earning a spot in the opening day rotation. However, in his first regular season start on March 29 against the Nippon-Ham Fighters, he allowed a leadoff home run to Yang Dai-kang and struggled, being pulled after just 0.2 innings and 19 pitches, his shortest outing ever. In an unusual move, he started again just three days later, on April 3, against Rakuten, pitching 5 scoreless innings to earn a victory. However, with the start of interleague play, he was de-registered in May due to a surplus of starting pitchers. The emergence of rookie Daiki Tomei and fellow left-handed starter Takahiro Matsuba as regular rotation members further limited his opportunities, and he made no further first-team appearances that season.

In 2015, Igawa had no appearances in official first-team games. His performance in the Western League minor league games was also poor, with a 0-4 record and a 14.40 ERA. Around June that year, he began a diet, losing about 26 lb ^{(12 kg)} in two months. However, on October 2, he was informed by the team that his contract would not be renewed, though he expressed a desire to continue playing professionally.

4. Playing Style and Characteristics

Kei Igawa is a left-handed pitcher who threw with an overhand delivery. His fastball could reach up to 94 mph ^{(151 km/h)}, although its average velocity during his first MLB year was around 89 mph ^{(144 km/h)}, and it further dropped to 85 mph ^{(137 km/h)} during his first year back in Japan. His primary weapons were a fastball and a changeup that dropped like a sinker with the same spin as his fastball, along with a slider. After moving to the Yankees, he also incorporated a cut fastball and a two-seam fastball.

In his rookie year with Hanshin, struggling with control, manager Nomura advised him to imagine throwing at a dartboard to improve his accuracy, leading Igawa to buy a dartboard for practice. According to Jin Nakatani, a catcher who played with Igawa from his rookie year, Igawa's pitches were not exceptional initially, but his ball rotation and velocity improved significantly around 2001. Nakatani noted Igawa's strong lower body as a key factor in his improved changeup.

Despite his struggles in MLB, Igawa's raw pitch velocity was considered top-class. In 2007, his hard hit rate (the rate at which batters make solid contact) was .196, the second-lowest on the Yankees behind Mariano Rivera. Teammates in Scranton often remarked that Igawa was "a pitcher who should be throwing in the big leagues" and that he had the "ability to play at the higher level but wasn't given the opportunity." However, figures like Frank Thomas criticized his command, stating that the primary issue was pitches being too "sweet" (middle of the plate), rather than just walks. Manager Joe Torre also commented that Igawa's pitches "weren't bad, but the problem was control." His inability to achieve sustained success in MLB was attributed to a lack of command (the ability to throw pitches to specific locations) and a high home run rate, which was already a concern in Japan. Igawa himself reflected that while Japanese hitters might miss his high changeups, MLB players were highly likely to hit them. Former Yankees assistant GM Billy Eppler strongly advocated for Igawa's acquisition, but during his first spring training, a bullpen catcher reportedly told Eppler that Igawa's control was "terrible" and that he wasn't "major league level" unless he was injured.

Igawa notably disliked day games. He would wear sunglasses during his starts in day games to make the environment feel more like a night game, where he typically performed better. As part of his offseason training, he has participated in orienteering competitions in Ibaraki Prefecture.

5. Personal Life and Interests

Kei Igawa was known in his younger days for being extremely frugal, to the point of saying, "I spent too much this month" if he spent 10.00 K JPY in a month, indicating a lack of attachment to money. His primary hobby is video games. In 2012, he won the Kanto block area competition of Sega's "WORLD CLUB Champion Football" and advanced to the national tournament. When he lived in the Hanshin Tigers' player dormitory, he spent almost all his non-baseball time playing games. There were even times when his monthly expenses were only 490 JPY for a game strategy guide.

Igawa is also an avid shogi (Japanese chess) player. During his time with the Hanshin Tigers, he would often play shogi with teammates and staff in the stadium locker room. An anecdote recounts that on the day he achieved his no-hitter in 2004, he was so engrossed in a shogi match with Tomoyuki Kubota that he was late for his pre-game bullpen warm-up, pitching the historic game despite not being fully prepared. In January 2007, the Japan Shogi Association appointed Igawa as a "shogi goodwill ambassador" to promote the game outside Japan and presented him with a first-grade diploma and a letter of commission.

He is a big soccer fan. He originally supported the Kashima Antlers, based near his hometown of Ibaraki, but became a fan of Gamba Osaka after joining the Hanshin Tigers. He joined his junior high school's baseball club because there was no soccer club. Although he pitches and bats left-handed in baseball, he writes with his right hand and uses chopsticks with his left hand. Interestingly, he attended the same elementary, junior high, and high schools as former baseball player Hiromoto Ohkubo, though in different generations.

6. Awards and Records

Kei Igawa accumulated numerous individual titles and awards throughout his career in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).

• NPB Titles:
  • Most Wins: 1 time (2003)
  • Best ERA: 1 time (2003)
  • Most Strikeouts: 3 times (2002, 2004, 2006)
  • Highest Winning Percentage: 1 time (2003) - *Note: This was not an official league award until 2013.*
  • NPB Awards:
    • Eiji Sawamura Award: 1 time (2003)
    • Central League MVP: 1 time (2003)
    • Best Nine Award (Pitcher): 1 time (2003)
    • Most Valuable Pitcher: 1 time (2003)
    • Monthly MVP: 3 times (April 2002, June 2003, July 2003)
    • Best Battery Award: 1 time (2003, with catcher Akihiro Yano)
    • Outstanding JCB-MEP Award: 1 time (2001)
    • Sanspo MVP Special Award: (2002)
    • NPB Records:
      • First appearance: May 2, 1999, against Hiroshima Toyo Carp at Hanshin Koshien Stadium (as a reliever)
      • First strikeout: May 7, 1999, against Yokohama BayStars at Yokohama Stadium, striking out Toshio Haru
      • First complete game victory: April 24, 2001, against Yomiuri Giants at Hanshin Koshien Stadium (9 innings, 1 earned run)
      • First shutout victory: August 17, 2001, against Yokohama BayStars at Yokohama Stadium
      • First save: October 12, 2002, against Hiroshima Toyo Carp at Hiroshima Municipal Stadium (2 innings, 0 earned runs)
      • No-hitter: October 4, 2004, against Hiroshima Toyo Carp at Hiroshima Municipal Stadium (71st in NPB history)
      • 1,000 innings pitched: August 23, 2005, against Hiroshima Toyo Carp at Hiroshima Municipal Stadium (304th player in history)
      • 1,000 strikeouts: April 14, 2006, against Hiroshima Toyo Carp at Hanshin Koshien Stadium, striking out Eishin Sohma (119th player in history)
      • First hit: June 1, 1999, against Yokohama BayStars at Hanshin Koshien Stadium (double to left field off Kazuo Fukumori)
      • First RBI: May 10, 2001, against Yokohama BayStars at Yokohama Stadium (pitcher's choice squeeze bunt off Hideki Yone)
      • All-Star Game appearances: 3 times (2001-2003)
      • Independent League (BFL) Titles/Awards (with Hyogo Blue Thunders, 2017):
        • Most Wins: 1 time (2017)
        • Best ERA: 1 time (2017)
        • Most Strikeouts: 1 time (2017)
        • Jersey Number:
          • No. 29 (1998-2008, 2012-2015, 2017)

          The following tables provide his full statistical performance in NPB and MLB:
          
          

          Year		Games	Starts	Complete Games	Shutouts	No-Walks	Wins	Losses	Saves	Holds	Win %	Batters Faced	Innings Pitched	Hits Allowed	Home Runs Allowed	Walks	Intentional Walks	Hit Batters	Strikeouts	Wild Pitches	Balks	Runs Allowed	Earned Runs	ERA	WHIP
          1999	Hanshin	7	3	0	0	0	1	1	0	--	.500	80	15.1 innings	23	1	13	0	1	14	0	0	11	11	6.46	2.35
          2000		9	5	0	0	0	1	3	0	--	.250	172	39.1 innings	36	5	19	1	0	37	7	0	19	19	4.35	1.40
          2001		29	28	3	2	0	9	13	0	--	.409	829	192.0 innings	174	11	89	6	3	171	6	0	76	57	2.67	1.37
          2002		31	29	8	4	2	14	9	1	--	.609	830	209.2 innings	163	15	53	1	7	206	8	0	63	58	2.49	1.03
          2003		29	29	8	2	3	20	5	0	--	.800	839	206.0 innings	184	15	58	3	3	179	5	0	72	64	2.80	1.17
          2004		29	29	6	3	1	14	11	0	--	.560	840	200.1 innings	190	29	54	0	6	228	5	0	95	83	3.73	1.22
          2005		27	27	2	1	1	13	9	0	0	.591	749	172.1 innings	199	23	60	0	1	145	4	0	91	74	3.86	1.50
          2006		29	29	8	3	2	14	9	0	0	.609	844	209.0 innings	180	17	49	3	6	194	4	0	77	69	2.97	1.10
          2007	NYY	14	12	0	0	0	2	3	0	0	.400	313	67.2 innings	76	15	37	1	4	53	5	1	48	47	6.25	1.67
          2008		2	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	.000	24	4.0 innings	13	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	6	6	13.50	3.25
          2012	Orix	12	12	0	0	0	2	7	0	0	.222	278	62.0 innings	64	5	31	0	2	36	3	1	35	32	4.65	1.53
          2013		9	9	0	0	0	3	3	0	0	.500	205	48.2 innings	48	2	15	0	2	41	2	0	15	14	2.59	1.34
          2014		8	8	0	0	0	2	2	0	0	.500	149	33.0 innings	37	4	12	0	0	28	0	0	17	14	3.82	1.48
          NPB: 11 years		219	208	35	15	9	93	72	1	0	.564	5815	1387.2 innings	1298	127	453	14	31	1279	44	1	571	495	3.21	1.26
          MLB: 2 years		16	13	0	0	0	2	4	0	0	.333	337	71.2 innings	89	15	37	1	4	53	5	1	54	53	6.66	1.76

          
          
          

          Year	Team	Pitching (P)
          		Games	Putouts	Assists	Errors	Double Plays	Fielding %
          1999	Hanshin	7	0	3	0	0	1.000
          2000		9	0	6	0	2	1.000
          2001		29	9	29	7	1	.844
          2002		31	8	42	0	3	1.000
          2003		29	8	28	1	1	.973
          2004		29	3	26	3	1	.906
          2005		27	3	29	1	3	.970
          2006		29	2	26	1	0	.966
          2007	NYY	14	1	3	1	1	.800
          2008		2	0	1	0	0	1.000
          2012	Orix	12	3	15	1	0	.947
          2013		9	2	7	0	1	1.000
          2014		8	0	3	1	0	.750
          NPB		219	38	214	15	12	.944
          MLB		16	1	4	1	1	.833

          
          
          

          Year	Team	Games	Complete Games	Wins	Losses	Saves	Win %	Batters Faced	Innings Pitched	Hits Allowed	Home Runs Allowed	Walks	Hit Batters	Strikeouts	Wild Pitches	Balks	Runs Allowed	Earned Runs	ERA	WHIP
          2017	Hyogo	14	1	11	0	0	1.00	300	82.0 innings	43	1	18	0	94	2	0	11	10	1.10	0.74
          Career: 1 year		14	1	11	0	0	1.00	300	82.0 innings	43	1	18	0	94	2	0	11	10	1.10	0.74

7. Reception and Legacy

Kei Igawa's baseball career is marked by a stark contrast between his dominant success in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) and his challenging, often criticized tenure in Major League Baseball (MLB]].

In Japan, Igawa is largely remembered as a formidable left-handed pitcher who consistently performed at an elite level for the Hanshin Tigers. He was instrumental in securing two Central League pennants for the team and earned numerous individual accolades, including the Eiji Sawamura Award, the league MVP, and multiple strikeout titles. His 20-win season in 2003 remains a significant achievement, cementing his status as the last Central League pitcher to reach that milestone. His consistency and contributions to the Tigers' competitive seasons are highly regarded. The anecdote of his continuous residence in the team's dormitory despite a high salary reflects a perception of his dedication and humble approach to the game.

However, his legacy in MLB is largely defined by the gap between the monumental 26.00 M USD posting fee the New York Yankees paid for his rights and his actual performance on the field. The high investment created immense expectations that Igawa struggled to meet, leading to significant media scrutiny and public disappointment. Despite showing flashes of brilliance, such as his six scoreless innings in relief during a 2007 game against the Boston Red Sox, he was frequently demoted to the minor leagues due to command issues. His inability to secure a consistent spot in the Yankees' rotation, despite posting solid numbers in Triple-A, led to narratives describing him as "the lost Yankee" and being ranked as one of the "worst professional athletes of the decade" in New York sports.

Igawa's own reflections on his MLB experience highlight the critical perspective he developed regarding the organizational treatment of some international players. He asserted that he was "shelved" by the Yankees and that his successes in the minor leagues were not fairly evaluated due to a "label" placed on him by the team. He also claimed that the Yankees attempted to force him to change his pitching mechanics, suggesting a lack of trust in his original, successful style. His refusal of multiple trade offers back to Japan, despite the Yankees' financial incentives, demonstrates his strong personal commitment to proving himself in MLB, even if it meant prolonged minor league assignments. This narrative provides a critical view of how high-stakes financial commitments in international player acquisitions can sometimes lead to rigid organizational expectations and limited opportunities, potentially hindering player development or success if immediate results aren't met.

Following his MLB stint, Igawa's return to NPB with the Orix Buffaloes was hampered by injuries, preventing him from recapturing his earlier dominant form. His time in the independent leagues with the Hyogo Blue Thunders showcased his continued passion for baseball and his ability to still perform at a high level, winning multiple titles. Despite not officially retiring, his transition to baseball analysis and commentary reflects a desire to remain connected to the sport, offering his unique perspective from a career that saw both immense highs and considerable challenges across two vastly different baseball environments.