Breakdown of Kyuji Fujikawa's rehab outing with the Smokies

Video of Kyuji Fujikawa's post-outing interview and some highlights of his outing at at Smokies Park
 

Kyuji Fujikawa pitched a smooth and easy seventh inning for the Tennessee Smokies in his second rehab outing after being put on the 15-day disabled list in mid-April with a strained right forearm. He faced the heart of a Birmingham Barons lineup that had scored 24 runs in 11 innings against Smokies pitching. The native of Japan needed just six pitches to get Birmingham in order.

Fujikawa allowed a lead off single to Michael Earley in the eighth inning. The right-hander picked off Earley five pitches later. It would be the only blemish on a stat sheet filled with zeroes for the Cubs pitcher. The radar gun at Smokies Park was 3-4 miles per hour slow. The fastballs were clocked at 87-89 MPH.

7th Inning: 3 batters, 6 pitches, 4 strikes 

Fujikawa started Dan Black with a called strike out the outside corner and quickly got a weak fly-out to center on a 74 MPH change-up. He fell behind Andy Wilkins with a fastball prior to getting the Barons first basemen to pop out to the shortstop Elliot Soto. The right-hander fell behind Tyler Saldino with a change-up. The Barons shortstop tried to get a cheap hit and laid down a bunt that was easily handled by catcher Rafael Lopez in front of the plate to retire the side in the inning.

8th Inning: 3 batters, 10 pitches, 4 strikes, 1 hit, 1 pick-off

Fujikawa started Michael Earley with an 88 MPH fastball. Earley lined the second pitch of the at-bat back up the middle into center on an 86 MPH fastball. Fujikawa missed with a pair of breaking balls up in the zone and fell behind 3-1 to Mike Blanke with a pitch low in the zone. On a 3-2 count, Fujikawa picked off Earley from first base on a lightning quick move to first. The next pitch, Fujikawa got Blanke to fly out to right field. After falling behind Cody Puckett 1-0, the Barons right fielder bounced a ball in the whole to shortstop Elliot Soto to end the inning.