Toronto Blue Jays fans delighted by pitcher Yusei Kikuchi’s seven shutout innings to start Spring Training: "2023 Cy Young" "Prime Randy Johnson 2.0" 

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Yusei Kikuchi continued his quest to join the team's starting rotation with three no-hit innings in a spring training game Tuesday.

Kikuchi struck out two, with two walks, through his three innings. He left a scoreless game in an eventual 7-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Kikuchi has yet to give up a run in three spring training games, striking out nine batters over seven total innings. He is seeking to re-join the Toronto Blue Jays starting staff after being demoted to the bullpen in his first season with the team in 2022.

Toronto signed Kikuchi, a 2021 All-Star with the Seattle Mariners, to a three-year, $36 million contract in March 2022. However, the 31-year-old disappointed in Toronto and was demoted to the bullpen in mid-August. For the year, he posted a 6-7 record with a 5.19 ERA and 1.50 WHIP in 32 games and 20 starts.

However, Kikuchi's stellar spring has Blue Jay fans thinking big for 2023.

Kikuchi has not posted the gaudiest ERA and WHIP statistics over his four major league seasons. After his difficult 2022, he has a 5.02 ERA and 1.424 WHIP since coming to MLB in 2019. However, he did toss 163 strikeouts in his All-Star season of 2021. The possibility of a full-go Kikuchi has Toronto fans feeling optimistic.

The first four slots of the Blue Jays rotation appear set for now. Alek Manoah, Kevin Gausman, Jose Berrios and Chris Bassit are a quartet that makes for a contending staff on paper. Toronto would likely enjoy Kikuchi pitching his way into at least the No. 5 spot, if not better. So far in spring, he's been doing just that.

Did we forget to mention that Kikuchi has only allowed one hit so far this spring? Well, he has ... and it didn't go very far.

Toronto Blue Jays hoping for bounce back from Kikuchi

Yusei Kikuchi #16 of the Toronto Blue Jays poses for a portrait during Toronto Blue Jays Photo Day

Kikuchi has the support of his Blue Jays teammates, as well as his pitching staffmates, as he looks to regain a spot in the team's rotation.

Manoah, Toronto's staff ace, told SportsNet Canada:

"It’ll be a snowball effect. One outing will turn into two or three good outings, which will turn into five or six good outings, which will turn into a good year."