Astros Break Language Barriers With Daily Word Lessons

When pitcher AJ Blubaugh learned that "good morning" in Japanese is "ohayo," his face lit up. "Ohio, that's where I'm from!" he told his new teammate Tatsuya Imai, a star pitcher from Japan.

That simple moment sparked something special in the Astros clubhouse. The team now features players from eight different countries who speak four different languages, making it baseball's most international roster for the fifth year running.

Manager Joe Espada knew his team needed a bridge across these cultures. His solution? A white chalkboard in the clubhouse featuring the Word of the Day written in English, Spanish, Japanese, and Mandarin.

Team travel director Juan Huitron chooses each word carefully. On day one of spring training, players learned "baseball" in all four languages. Other days have featured "hello," "food," and "friend," complete with pronunciation guides.

"The goal is at the end of camp to be able to string some sentences together," Espada said. "The players really love that we're trying."

The initiative comes as the Astros welcome new faces from across the globe. Imai, a three-time All-Star from Japan, signed a three-year deal in January. Taiwanese pitcher Kai-Wei Teng joined from the Giants and speaks Mandarin.

Pitcher Spencer Arrighetti has embraced the challenge. He's been asking Imai about Japanese baseball culture and picking up phrases through Imai's interpreter, Ryo Takagi.

"It's cool to see how process-oriented he is and how hard he works," Arrighetti said. "I'll ask about a thing or two here or there, and I'll get an answer."

Why This Inspires

The Astros aren't just teaching language. They're showing that connection matters more than perfect pronunciation. Blubaugh admits he's still working on his Japanese accent, but he's trying. Espada is learning alongside his players.

Imai is picking up English words too, taking inspiration from former Astro Yusei Kikuchi, who can now hold full conversations. "I've just got to go little by little every day," Imai said through his interpreter.

While interpreters will join mound visits during games to ensure clear communication, spring training is about something deeper. It's about teammates becoming friends, learning from each other, and discovering that "ohayo" and "Ohio" aren't so different after all.

By season's end, this clubhouse won't just speak more languages—they'll understand each other better.