Toronto Blue Jays left-hander Yusei Kikuchi’s 2022 campaign ended without an appearance on the postseason mound on Saturday as his team was eliminated by the Seattle Mariners in the American League Wild Card Series.
Kikuchi watched the end of the game from the bullpen at Rogers Center in Toronto after his former team rallied from a seven-inning deficit to beat the Blue Jays 10-9 in Game 2 of the best-of-three series.
Seattle Mariners players celebrate after defeating the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 2 to win the American League Wild Card Series at Rogers Center on October 8, 2022, in Toronto, Canada. (Getty/Essonne Info)
In his fourth major league year and first with the Blue Jays, the 31-year-old Japanese was moved to the bullpen in August after going 4-7 with a 5.25 ERA in 20 starts.
“It’s disappointing,” Kikuchi said. “I didn’t expect my team to be finished here. The team was looking to advance deep into the playoffs. »
“Overall it was a season where I struggled and was frustrated. »
The Mariners qualified for the Division Series against the Houston Astros in their first postseason appearance since 2001, when they won an American League record 116 games with the then-rookie, Ichiro Suzuki, in the lead.
“I’m going to work on things in the offseason while remembering that bitter feeling. »
