Blogs

Kosuke Fukudome

Outfielder
Position
CF
Bats
L
Throws
R

Contract: Signed through 2011

  • Height: 6-0
  • Weight: 187 lbs
  • Born: Apr 26, 1977

  • Debut: March 31, 2008

SEASON

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Newsbreakers

November 10, 2009

Kosuke Fukudome will start in right field, and not center, in 2010, according to the Chicago Tribune.

Our View:

The Cubs were woeful defensively in the outfield last season, and while Fukudome is a solid defender, he is better suited to right, and not center. The team will now pursue a center fielder on the free agent market.

August 21, 2009

Kosuke Fukudome went 3-for-3 with a home run on Thursday night, but it wasn't enough, as the Cubbies fell 7-2 in L.A.

Our View:

Fukudome is now batting .277 on the season, 11 points higher than he was on August 20th last year. After fading down the stretch in 2008, he does not appear to be doing so in '09.

August 14, 2009

Kosuke Fukudome homered and drove in three on Friday, helping the Cubs embarrass the Pirates 17-2 at Wrigley Field.

Our View:

The home run and multi-RBI game were his third of each this month. He's now batting .275 with ten home runs and 43 RBI on the season.

August 4, 2009

Kosuke Fukudome went 2-for-5 with a home run, a run scored, and two RBI in the Cubs' 6-3 win over the Reds on Tuesday. Fukudome now has eight home runs on the season.

Our View:

Fukudome has his average up to ,273 on the season, but he is only an average fantasy option. He has 37 RBI this season, and is only woth a look in NL-only leagues.

July 30, 2009

Kosuke Fukudome led the Cubs in Thursday's 12-3 win over the Astros at Wrigley Field, as he went 3-for-3 with four RBI and two runs scored. He hit a single, double and a triple.

Our View:

Fukudome is batting .321 with 12 RBI in July. He is worth penciling into NL-only lineups while hitting well.

July 26, 2009

Kosuke Fukudome drove in two runs in a game for the first time since June 9 on Sunday, as the Cubbies beat the Reds 5-2 to move into first place in the NL Central.

Our View:

Fukudome doesn't look like he'll ever develop into the dynamic offensive outfielder the Cubs thought he would, but he provides a decent amount of production, and won't weigh down your team in NL only leagues.

July 21, 2009

Kosuke Fukudome's fourth inning single scored the Cubs only run on Tuesday, as the Phillies went on to win a 13 inning affair 4-1.

Our View:

Fukudome also went 1-for-5 to lower his average to .261, He is now a .259 career hitter, and not much of a fantasy player outside of NL-only leagues.

July 8, 2009

Kosuke Fukudome provided the Cubs lone run on Wednesday via a solo home run. The North Siders lost 4-1 to the Braves, who took two of three at Wrigley during the teams' three game series.

Our View:

He also made a costly ninth inning error that allowed two unearned runs to eventually cross the plate. Fukudome has settled into what appears to now be an annual midseason malaise. There aren't many players hitting around him either, but the Cubs will need his bat to wake up in the second half of the season if they want to have any chance of taking the NL Central. He isn't much of a fantasy option at this point in time.

July 1, 2009

Kosuke Fukudome homered for the first time since May 26 on Wednesday, and the Cubs beat the Pirates 4-1 in Pittsburgh.

Our View:

Much like he did last season, Fukudome has cooled off majorly after a fast start. He isn't worth a roster spot in almost every format.

June 10, 2009

Kosuke Fukudome led the Cubs offensively in Tuesday's 7-1 win at Houston, as he went 2-for-4 with two RBI. He hit a single and a double.

Our View:

He raised his season average to .296, and ended a three-game slump without a hit.

May 10, 2009

Kosuke Fukudome hit third for the Cubs in Sunday's 4-2 win over the Brewers. He finished 2-for-3 with a triple, a walk, and a run scored.

Our View:

Fukudome has produced when given the opportunity this season, but manager Lou Pineilla continues to rotate him with Reed Johnson and Milton Bradley with Fukudome.

May 5, 2009

Kosuke Fukudome was 0-for-3 on Tuesday in the Cubs' 6-2 loss to the Giants.

Our View:

Fukudome started out on fire, but has been cooling significantly as of late. Since April 26th his average has dropped 71 points and he has had only one extra-base hit in his last ten games. He started out hot last season as well, and was a colossal flop in the second half. Looks like he may be cooling off earlier than expected this season.

May 2, 2009

Outfielder Kosuke Fukudome didn't have a hit on Saturday against the Marlins, but he drew two walks, stole two bases, and scored a run.

Our View:

Fukudome is not only hitting better this year, he is also having games like this which should endear him more to manager Lou Piniella. We should note that Fukudome is not expected to become a major stolen base threat.

April 26, 2009

Kosuke Fukudome continued his hot April with a 3-for-4 night against the Cardinals. He homered and drove in five in the Cubs' 10-3 win on Sunday.

Our View:

The second year Japanese import seems more comfortable at the plate this season, and his stats back it up. He's hitting .371 with four homers and 15 RBI in just 17 games. Beware of a second half slide though. He started with a bang last year as well and then fell into a slump that lasted the final three months.

April 24, 2009

Kosuke Fukudome is expected to see more playing time in right field with Milton Bradley slowly recovering from a groin injury and Micah Hoffpauir struggling defensively, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. Skipper Lou Piniella said, "I guess we are going to have to stay with our best defense and forget trying to get more offense, which means when Bradley does not play, I am going to have to put Reed Johnson in center field and put Kosuke Fukudome in right."

Our View:

Fukudome is hitting 17-for-49 (.347) with three homers, 10 RBI and 12 runs scored. Fukudome should move back to center field when Bradley comes back.

April 16, 2009

Kosuke Fukudome remained hot on Thursday, going 2-for-5 with a three-run home run, his third homer of the year.

Our View:

While he was also caught stealing for the second time in three attempts this year, it's nice to see that he's at least trying to be active on the base paths. Fantasy owners should be wary, however, that the 2008 All-Star looked equally great at the beginning of last year before completely falling off the map after the All-Star break.

April 8, 2009

Kosuke Fukudome was 4-for-5 with a solo home run in teh Cubs 11-6 win over the Astros on Wednesday.

Our View:

He got off to a hat start last year too, but then hit under .200 for the final two months of the season. Be careful his hot start this year isn't a mirage as well.

March 30, 2009

ESPN.com reports that the Cubs are worried about Kosuke Fukudome holding up all season in center field. They are also worried about his hitting and it appears Reed Johnson will see plenty of time spelling the outfielder.

Our View:

Fukudome remains a risky pick in fantasy leagues. He hit just .217 with a .314 after the break last season.

March 28, 2009

In five at-bats in the Cubs' 10-6 loss to the Rockies, Kosuke Fukudome went 0-for-3, but did walk twice.

Our View:

Fukudome's performance can't be instilling confidence into manager Lou Piniella or fantasy owners who have bothered to pay attention to him. He's now hitting .143 on the spring.

March 5, 2009

Kosuke Fukudome was all over the base paths for Japan on Thursday, drawing four walks. He didn't have any official at-bats but did come around to score once.

Our View:

If Fukudome can replicate his April from last season, it could certainly help the Cubs get off to a hot start. He needs to avoid his big decline that happened after May, as the Cubs won't get a surge from Jim Edmonds this season.

March 4, 2009

According to the Chicago Sun Times, Kosuke Fukudome will platoon in center field with Reed Johnson. Fukudome should get the bulk of the playing time, but if his second half woes from last year continue Johnson could emerge as the number one.

Our View:

The Japanese transfer disappointed a lot of fantasy owners last year, and will need to start hot if he's going to have any impact at all in mixed leagues. He's worth a late look.

February 19, 2009

The Mariners inquired about Cubs' outfielder Kosuke Fukudome in the off-season, according to the Chicago Tribune. The Mariners were reportedly shopping Erik Bedard, Jarrod Washburn and Kenji Johjima.

Our View:

Fukudome still has to earn a starting spot in the Cubs' outfield for 2009, but is worth targeting as a flier. The Mariners are not likely to pursue him again, especially after bringing back Ken Griffey Jr.

February 11, 2009

Kosuke Fukudome won't be in the Cubs' camp until March due to competing in the World Baseball Classic, but he should be better prepared for the majors this season, according to MLB.com.

Our View:

Fukudome really fell off after April in his rookie year in the majors, but if he can come close to his production from that month, he could be valuable for fantasy purposes. He'll likely be a waiver wire player to start the year, but could go late in drafts in some deeper leagues.

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