This kid is a beast.. his only minor Achilles heal is going to be control, but he has a lot of time to get that under control. This kid has a bright future.
Shohei Otani could decide where he wants to play as early as next week
Quote:
Shohei Otani, his parents, and Hanamaki Higashi manager Hiroshi Sasaki meeting with the Boston Red Sox started at 6pm and lasted about an hour and a half. He is expected to sit down with his family his family sometime this week and could come to a final decision some time early next week.
According to people involved, Otani, both his parents, and manager Hiroshi Sasaki are scheduled to meet today. An announcement was originally planned for Monday, but with the draft looming, it was push up a day to Sunday. Otani is reportedly concerned about burdening family and about his future in the NPB (if he goes to the US now, he will not be able to play in the NPB for three years after his return to Japan). People around him are also suggesting that he stay. He will probably decide to remain in Japan.
Otani will make an announcement on Monday. A number of teams, including the Yokohama Bay Stars and Rakuten Eagles, are waiting to hear what Otani's final decision.
A person with knowledge of the situation told reporters that Otani has his heart set on going to the US, but his father wants him to stay in Japan. His mother also took his father's opinion. A number of teams could still select Otani even if he decides he wants to play in the US.
HANAMAKI, Iwate Pref. — Shohei Otani will become the first potential top draft pick to make the direct jump from a Japanese high school to the major leagues after the right-hander announced his decision to play in the United States on Sunday.
"It was a difficult decision," said Otani. "There was a conflict of opinions between me and my parents and the people around me and I was in two minds. I fretted about it so I am relieved. I am glad I was able to stick to my guns."
Otani, the 18-year-old for Hanamaki Higashi High School armed with a fastball clocked at 160 km per hour, has met with three major league teams — the Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers and Texas Rangers — and the Baltimore Orioles have also been reported as potential suitors.
The 193-cm Otani was expected to go in the first round of Thursday's amateur draft had he decided to enter, after meeting with representatives from the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters and the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles.
Otani played for the Japan national team at this summer's under-18 world championships. He appeared in the National High School Championships last year, as well as the national invitational this spring.
The news comes three years after Hanamaki Higashi lefty Yusei Kikuchi turned down several clubs from the majors. Kikuchi was eventually drafted and signed by the Seibu Lions.
Boston right-hander Junichi Tazawa was the first amateur blue chip to directly sign with a major league team in 2008, when he left his corporate league team to play for the Red Sox.
Japanese Highschool pitcher clocked at 100 mph
Japanese Highschool pitcher clocked at 100 mph
Shohei Otani
Linear Mode
