August 15th will forever be a special day for Shinnosuke Ogasawara — the night the Washington Nationals rookie secured his first Major League win. It happened against the Philadelphia Phillies, in a high-pressure moment. With two outs and a runner on first in the seventh inning, Ogasawara was summoned to face one of the game’s premier power threats: Kyle Schwarber. The message from the dugout was simple — but surprising. Pitch to Schwarber.
“I took a deep breath, threw a curveball, and from there, everything fell into place,” Ogasawara later recalled. “Attacking completely with breaking balls, I struck him out swinging in just four pitches. It felt like my best pitching moment yet, and soon after, my team rallied to win—the perfect reward.”
He recalled the sequence in detail later, almost reliving the energy of the moment: “My first curveball pitch was a good one, and the slider was on point. I used all breaking balls, and the moment I struck him out swinging after just four pitches, I couldn't help but howl. It was the best pitch I've ever thrown. The batting line made a comeback right after that, and the win came down to me like a reward.”
Ogasawara’s first victory didn’t come easily. His journey was filled with setbacks earlier this year. The Nationals, who signed him as their first Japanese player in franchise history to a two-year contract during the offseason, initially sent him to Triple-A Rochester after Spring Training. But on March 21st, Ogasawara hit the injured list. Working his way up through the Nationals' Minor Leagues this season was a challenge for Ogasawara. Through the Nationals’ minor leagues, Ogasawara had an ERA of 3.71 with a record of 2-1 with 31 strikeouts, a WHIP of 1.32 over 34.0 innings pitched.
It wasn’t until July 6th that he finally made his MLB debut — and it was rocky. He was optioned back to Rochester just a week later, tasked with working out the kinks. For the rest of July, he sharpened his game in the minors before getting another shot. This time, the context was very different. Following the August 1st trade deadline, Ogasawara was recalled to Washington — but he wasn’t brought back as a starter. Instead, he was asked to take on a new assignment: the bullpen.
“Back when I was with the Chunichi Dragons, it was common to warm up my shoulders twice in the bullpen,” Ogasawara explained with a smile. “I have fond memories of Tajima-san joking, ‘You’re a starter, right? (laughs) If you’re just making fun of me, go home! (laughs)’ Here, you only warm up your shoulders once.”
The day I won my first major league game. After the game, I was congratulated with a beer shower, something that would be unthinkable in Japan. Furthermore, in the clubhouse, I often felt a sense of unity while spending my daily life with teammates from different cultures and languages. I feel that these small interactions have truly made me a part of the major leagues.
For Ogasawara, that first win represented much more than numbers on a page. “While this first win is a big milestone, what matters most is how accepted and supported I feel by my teammates,” he said. “The small moments of everyday conversation and celebration build a sense of belonging. I still have a long way to go and many challenges ahead, but I am proud to have taken my first step in the majors—and that memory will drive me forward every day.”
Since his return, Ogasawara has made an immediate impact with the much-improved Nationals bullpen. From August 2nd on, he owns a 1-0 record with a 3.07 ERA across nine appearances, covering 14 2/3 innings, while holding opponents to a .180 batting average. Against left-handed hitters, he’s been especially dominant — allowing just one hit in 13 at-bats (.077) across his past seven outings heading into Sunday’s game.
The energy that the lefty has hasn’t gone unnoticed. “He’s a warrior,” said Nationals interim Manager Miguel Cairo about Shinnosuke Ogasawara's competitive nature, and even his fellow teammates have noticed. “He’s a freakin’ competitor,” starter Jake Irvin added. “He likes to go out there and just get after people. I think that he’s done a really good job just going right at guys.” and center fielder Jacob Young said: “He’s been fun to watch since he came back up" to the majors.
Ogasawara’s first Major League win is only the beginning. With his confidence growing, his breaking ball working, and his presence in the clubhouse strengthening, the 26-year-old has already given Nationals fans a glimpse of what he can be.
It may have started with one curveball against Kyle Schwarber — but the journey ahead looks like it could be even bigger.