HOUSTON -- Three days after trading for Yusei Kikuchi, the Astros formally introduced what manager Joe Espada called the ¡°one piece we were missing¡± at a press conference on Wednesday.

In a deal with the Blue Jays, Houston acquired Kikuchi in exchange for young players -- right-hander Jake Bloss (No. 9 prospect), infielder Will Wagner (No. 13 prospect) and outfielder Joey Loperfido.

"We see Kikuchi as a young guy who can really strike guys out,¡± said general manager Dana Brown on Monday night. "We see him as a guy who can really log some innings for us and we see him as a guy who can pitch in the postseason with the power that he brings. He throws from 93 to 98 [mph]. This addition for us, we feel like this could be pretty good.¡±

Kikuchi acknowledged that his 2024 season for the Blue Jays hasn¡¯t gone as well as he would¡¯ve liked it to, but he¡¯s hopeful that a fresh start with the Astros will begin a turnaround.

¡°Mechanics-wise, there's no issues,¡± Kikuchi said through an interpreter. ¡°I¡¯m pretty confident that it was just the pressure of the situation. Sometimes being in tight games, you don¡¯t want to give up that next run. I ended up just throwing it over the plate a little bit, but yeah, hopefully with the Astros, I can make that adjustment.¡±

The 2021 All-Star selection ended his final season at Toronto with a 4-9 record, a 4.75 ERA and a 1.34 WHIP. His ERA ballooned to 7.34 in his final seven games for the Blue Jays, and he was last credited with a win on June 11 in a 3-0 victory at Milwaukee.

¡°Over the last two months, I felt like my stuff [was] leaking over the middle a little bit, so I want to make that adjustment,¡± Kikuchi said. ¡°I¡¯m looking forward to having a chance to sit down with the coaches and see how I can improve.¡±

Despite the high ERA, Kikuchi struck out 130 batters in 115 2/3 innings, while only allowing 30 walks. He will make his Astros debut on Friday at Minute Maid Park to open the series against the Rays.

When Kikuchi starts, he¡¯ll officially be the first Japanese starting pitcher in Astros history.

¡°Even though there¡¯s not that many Japanese players here, historically, the Astros are still pretty popular in Japan just because it¡¯s a winning organization,¡± he said. ¡°The team¡¯s always in the playoffs. They always have the playoff games on TV in Japan, so hopefully we win here and we make a long playoff run that Japanese fans can see overseas.¡±

Manager Joe Espada also echoed Kikuchi¡¯s drive.

¡°He wants to win, that¡¯s the first thing he said,¡± Espada said about his initial conversation with Kikuchi. ¡°He said he¡¯s excited [about] going to a team that plays in October, [that] knows the side of winning in October. And I told him you¡¯re here to help us get to October.¡±

Espada also spoke highly of reliever Caleb Ferguson, who the Astros acquired right before the Trade Deadline from the Yankees. The veteran lefty has a 5.13 ERA on the year, striking out 41 batters and allowing 16 walks in 33 1/3 innings pitched. Ferguson will be available in the Astros' bullpen in the series finale against the Pirates.

¡°We¡¯ve liked the arm, we¡¯ve liked the arm for years,¡± Espada said on Tuesday. ¡°It can be really good against lefties and righties.¡±

Ferguson faced the Astros in their season-opening series, pitching 2 1/3 innings across two games. He struck out Yordan Alvarez and Jeremy Pe?a, while issuing walks to Yainer Diaz and Kyle Tucker.

¡°A lot of winning goes on here,¡± Ferguson said before Wednesday¡¯s game. ¡°I¡¯m excited. There¡¯s definitely worse landing spots, but a team that¡¯s in contention every year is a good spot to go.¡±