Japanese right-hander Tatsuya Imai is reportedly set to exercise his player option and remain with the Houston Astros for the 2027 season, according to Yahoo Sports contributor Andy Backstrom.
The 25-year-old pitcher endured a challenging debut campaign in Major League Baseball, posting a 4.93 earned run average over 23 appearances, including 15 starts. Despite the struggles, the Astros appear willing to give Imai another opportunity to adjust to the big leagues.
Imai signed a two-year contract with a player option for the second year prior to the 2026 season. His decision to stay in Houston avoids free agency and keeps him in the organization's rotation plans heading into spring training.
