以下是一個曾擔任笑臉人環太平洋職業球探5年('7-'12)，洋基的國際部門職業球探
('12-'15)的看法。
首先他覺得MLB投手丘相較於NPB的投手丘來得硬，日本投手需要作出調整適應。但
他認為這不會困擾前田健太太多，因為前田健太有優異的運動天分能做改變。但他
明確指出2013與2014年時的缺陣讓球探們感到憂慮，球探質疑他的續航力以及健康
。這當然大大影響他的身價使得他簽下一份超小張的合約。
這個球探在前田20出頭時開始觀察他。球探覺得前田並不同於一般的日本投手，他在
投手丘上勇於攻擊打者積極攻擊好球帶，同時他很年輕就展現超齡的自信與成績。當
時前田在他的評價是：有潛力plus的滑球、平均水準的曲球、plus圈指變速球、略高
於平均的速球。
前田最大的問題是2013與2014年的表現。這位球探認為任何傷勢都會影響投手的投球
與準備動作，這是他觀察2013、2014年的前田建太的結果。他的肩膀都出現問題也分
別缺席至少三至四場比賽。他在2013年裡的變化球失去犀利性，速球也懶懶得不太跑
，其中最大的問題是他的武器球變速球失去水準(該名球探覺得前田似乎更偏愛用滑球
，但他相信最好的球種是變速球)；然後前田於2014春訓嘗試丟指叉球，因為丟得實在
太糟糕，最後只好打消主意...但總歸而言，即便他在這兩年的評價降低，他還是一個
有效率的投手。現在，時間往後至2015年，他在這一年回歸到20歲出頭的潛力水準。如
果你是球探你該如何處斷？
最後附上球探報告：
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.