以下是一个曾担任笑脸人环太平洋职业球探5年('7-'12)，洋基的国际部门职业球探
('12-'15)的看法。
首先他觉得MLB投手丘相较于NPB的投手丘来得硬，日本投手需要作出调整适应。但
他认为这不会困扰前田健太太多，因为前田健太有优异的运动天分能做改变。但他
明确指出2013与2014年时的缺阵让球探们感到忧虑，球探质疑他的续航力以及健康
。这当然大大影响他的身价使得他签下一份超小张的合约。
这个球探在前田20出头时开始观察他。球探觉得前田并不同于一般的日本投手，他在
投手丘上勇于攻击打者积极攻击好球带，同时他很年轻就展现超龄的自信与成绩。当
时前田在他的评价是：有潜力plus的滑球、平均水准的曲球、plus圈指变速球、略高
于平均的速球。
前田最大的问题是2013与2014年的表现。这位球探认为任何伤势都会影响投手的投球
与准备动作，这是他观察2013、2014年的前田建太的结果。他的肩膀都出现问题也分
别缺席至少三至四场比赛。他在2013年里的变化球失去犀利性，速球也懒懒得不太跑
，其中最大的问题是他的武器球变速球失去水准(该名球探觉得前田似乎更偏爱用滑球
，但他相信最好的球种是变速球)；然后前田于2014春训尝试丢指叉球，因为丢得实在
太糟糕，最后只好打消主意...但总归而言，即便他在这两年的评价降低，他还是一个
有效率的投手。现在，时间往后至2015年，他在这一年回归到20岁出头的潜力水准。如
果你是球探你该如何处断？
最后附上球探报告：
Physical Description - Slim, slender; athletic, wirey frame.
Control (60/60): Feel with all pitches. Works ahead, doesn’t shy away
from contact and no hesitation to use off-speed down in
count. Fills up zone, will challenge.
Floor - 50 Ceiling - 55 Realistic Role - Strong #4 SP
Pitch Present Future Sitting Max
Fastball 55 55 88-92 94
Quick arm, late life in zone, especially get some ride up in zone; can find
extra gear at times.
COMMAND (60/60): Good job staying out of middle of plate; works both edges
with ease and good feel for the bottom of zone; comfortable working in on
lefties. Will change eyelevel. Locates Cutter to both sides.
MOVEMENT(60/60): Hard sink, 2-seam actionto both sides; gets bore in on
righties.2-way pitch, late cut glove side.
Curveball 50 50 71-75 78
Variations; 12/6 breaker with tight rotation, snap; good arm speed. Feel for
spin, locates to both sides; comfortable going out of zone for put-away. Will
back off and have it roll at times; likes to use early in count.
Change Up 55 55 81-85 87
Good arm speed, feel; circle fade with occasional hard bottom. Mainly use on
lefties; shown prior effectiveness vs righties. Has become 3rd pitch. Tinkers,
lost some of the late action recently, can flatten out.
DECEPTION (50/50): Quick, clean arm; hides it a little in back; more about
location than deception. Still a chance to get back to solid plus.
Slider 55 55 80-82 83
Go-to pitch; 3/4 depth, tight; will use in any count. Some variations; has it
get big at times, especially early in count; dials up with late bite for
put-away.
CONTROL (60/60): Feel with all pitches; works ahead, doesn’t shy
away from contact and no hesitation to use off-speed down in count. Fills up
zone, will challenge hitters.
Strong #4 starter with plus command/control of four average pitches. Plus
athlete that gets good angle for his size. Relies on movement and location;
looks for soft contact, but can reach back for a little extra velo when needed.
He is around the zone a lot and will give up his hits, but see the strikeouts
coming up as he gets away from contact-heavy NPB. Solid make-up guy, not at all
scared, battles, makes adjustments on the fly; will keep team in the game;
solid mound presence and the ability to win without best stuff. Effort in the
delivery, but it's clean and controlled and he knows how to throttle up/back.
Concern regarding elbow inflammation over last 2+ seasons. Believe he will need
added rest during first MLB season as he adjusts to five-man rotation, and
deeper major league lineups.