Astros' $54M pitcher blames arm fatigue on struggle to adjust to American lifestyle

Fox News Flash top sports headlines are here. Check out what's clicking on FoxNews.com.

Japanese pitcher Tatsuya Imai signed with the Houston Astros this offseason, and the transition to the American lifestyle has not been easy for him.

Imai, 27, was recently placed on the injured list with right arm fatigue, and in his first comments since the injury, he said, through an interpreter, the adjustment to the American lifestyle might be the reason.

"He’s not able to adjust to the American lifestyle," Imai’s interpreter, Shio Enomoto, said, according to The Athletic. "Baseball and outside of baseball. That’s probably the reason (for his arm fatigue)."

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Houston Astros starting pitcher Tatsuya Imai walks back to the dugout after being removed during the first inning against the Seattle Mariners in Seattle, Washington, on April 10, 2026. (Lindsey Wasson/AP Photo)

Through an interpreter, Imai said the timing of when players eat dinner after a game is different, in addition to travel.

"For example, the travel is different from Japan," Imai said, according to Enomoto. "The timing when the players eat. In Japan, when they get back to the hotel, they eat their dinner. Here, the players eat at the stadium."

"He thought it would be the same as in Japan, for example, eating dinner at the hotel."

WHITE SOX LONGTIME ANTHEM SINGER COLLAPSES ON FIELD WHILE PERFORMING BLACK NATIONAL ANTHEM

Houston Astros starting pitcher Tatsuya Imai reacts after allowing a run on a wild pitch during the first inning against the Seattle Mariners in Seattle, Washington, on April 10, 2026. (Lindsey Wasson/AP Photo)

Imai said that he is going to use his time on IL to adjust and "try to become better." He