Originally Posted by RedSox.com

BOSTON -- The Boston Red Sox have signed free agent righthanded pitcher Terumasa Matsuo from the Independent Shikoku Island League in Japan.

The announcement was made by Red Sox Vice President of International Scouting Craig Shipley and Pacific Rim Coordinator Jon Deeble in Shikoku, Japan.

The 26-year-old Matsuo has pitched the last two seasons for the Kagawa Olive Guyners and was the Shikoku Island League Most Valuable Player in 2007, when he led the league with 15 wins (15-3 record) and 159 strikeouts. The righthander posted a 1.72 earned run average and permitted just 85 hits in 152.0 innings over 30 starts. Matsuo was also selected as the pitcher on the league's Best Nine Team. He had an 11-2 record with a 1.82 era, 134 strikeouts, and 98 hits issued in 138.0 innings in 2006.

Matsuo is expected to report to the Red Sox extended spring training camp in Fort Myers, Florida early this week.