Patrick »
05 April 2009 »
In international baseball »
Here’s more on some of the minor leaguers that I was following in the offseason:
- Kazuhiro Takeoka -> training in Arizona, hoping to catch on with a team as the season progresses.Â
- Takateru Iyono -> didn’t catch on with an MLB organization; signed with the Brother Elephants of Taiwan.
- Tatsuya Ozeki -> flunked his audition with the Rockies, back in Japan blogging.
- Michinao Yamamura -> looks like he was in camp with the independent Calgary Vipers; not sure if he made the team.
- Koichi Misawa -> Unknown; all I could find was that he won’t be back with Northern League’s RailCats in 2009.
- Yosuke Kawaguchi -> this guy wasn’t on my radar at all, but two seperate readers pointed out that he’s signed with the Yuma Scorpions of the independent Golden League (thanks to readers Dave and Patrick P for the tip).
All these guys, with the exception of Misawa, played in NPB last season.
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Tags: Kazuhiro Takeoka, Koichi Misawa, Michinao Yamamura, Takateru Iyono, Tatsuya Ozeki, Yosuke Kawaguchi
Patrick »
19 February 2009 »
In mlb prospects »
This offseason, we’ve seen a large number of released NPB players announce an intent to pursue contracts with MLB organizations. I’m not sure if this is a record, but it’s the most I can recall. I’m not including Junichi Tazawa and Ken Takahashi in this list, because Takahashi turned down NPB offers, and Tazawa would have been drafted. All of these guys were either released by their NPB teams, or in the case of Yamarin, not drafted.
- Shigeki Noguchi -> agreed with Blue Jays, failed physical
- Ken Kadokura -> Cubs
- Kazuhiro Takeoka -> Unsigned (Braves?)
- Katsuhiko Maekawa -> Cardinals
- Takateru Iyono -> Unsigned
- Tatsuya Ozeki -> trying out with the Rockies in March
- Ryohei Tanaka -> Orioles
- Michinao Yamamura -> Unsigned (Golden League?)
- Koichi Misawa -> Unsigned (played in the Northern League in ’08)
- Yoshinori Yamarin -> Braves
- Itsuki Shoda -> Sinon Bulls (Taiwan)
Five Players are still unsigned, which doesn’t surprise me, but I can see Yamamura and Iyono getting a shot as they’re still in their 20’s. Takeoka has worked out twice for the Braves and played AAA ball, so he might a chance too.
Notable MLB returnees:
- Jeremy Powell -> Pirates
- Jason Standridge -> Marlins
- Craig Brazell -> Orioles
- Winston Abreu -> Rays
Without a doubt, all of the players listed above obvious face big uphill battles to making it to the majors. But the fact that they are getting a chance indicates either a heightened respect for the level of talent in Japan, or a greater need to find low-cost, low-risk players through non-traditional channels. There will be 22 Japanese players in 14 big league camps this spring.
Reasons not to write these guys off just yet: Tomo Ohka, Takashi Saito, Hector Carrasco, Buddy Carlyle, Brian Shouse and Pedro Feliciano. Saito looked like he was on the downside of his career when he came over, and none of the other guys had lasting success at the top level in Japan. All have been at least useful MLB players.
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Tags: Brian Shouse, Buddy Carlyle, Hector Carrasco, Itsuki Shoda, Katsuhiko Maekawa, Kazuhiro Takeoka, Ken Kadokura, Koichi Misawa, Michinao Yamamura, Pedro Feliciano, Ryohei Tanaka, Shigeki Noguchi, Takashi Saito, Takateru Iyono, Tatsuya Ozeki, Tomo Ohka, Yoshinori Yamarin
Patrick »
09 February 2009 »
In nichibei »
Things are progressing slowly for the ex-NPB farmhands who are looking minor league deals in America, but there is some news:
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Tags: Kazuhiro Takeoka, Koichi Misawa, Michinao Yamamura, Ryohei Tanaka