TOKYO -- Japanese high school pitcher Shohei Otani says he will pursue a career in Major League Baseball instead of turning professional in Japan.
Otani, a 6-foot-4 right-hander who has thrown a fastball between 99 and 100 mph, has been scouted by several major league teams including the Los Angeles Dodgers and Boston Red Sox.
The 18-year-old Otani said "I think I will start in the minor leagues but I want to challenge in the majors. It's been my dream since entering high school."
Otani was expected to go in the first round of Thursday's amateur draft in Japan.
If he signs with a major league team, Otani would become the first potential top draft pick to make the direct jump
^ With more and more Japanese players going to the Majors, it reminds me of all the black players going to the Majors in the 1950's and the Negro Leagues fading into oblivion...
And in an odd bit of ‹ô‘R (guzen- coincidence) the Yomiuri Giants also came back from a 3 game-to-1 deficit to beat Chunichi and get into the Japan Series against Nippon Ham.
"Good pitching will beat good hitting every time, and vice-versa." - Yogi Berra
Although Voglesong didn't really pitch all that well (5 walks and 4 hits in 5 2/3). But every time he got in a jam he managed to get himself out of it. :thumbsup:
gaijinmark wrote:Although Voglesong didn't really pitch all that well (5 walks and 4 hits in 5 2/3). But every time he got in a jam he managed to get himself out of it. :thumbsup:
Yup... Tigers couldn't get a clutch hit from anyone.