The deep-rooted passion for amateur baseball in Japan is almost as strong as that of Sumo wrestling. So when Shohei Otani considered skipping the NPB to jump directly the major leagues in 2012, the country took notice.
An in-depth inspection of the evolving relationship between the U.S. and Pacific Rim pro leagues. Is it time for players on the bubble to take a closer look at Asia?
Scout and new 2080 contributor Dave DeFreitas analyzes the Dodgers right-hander and wonders – will his signing convince more mid-to-upper level Asian players to make the jump to MLB?
After tapping into the free agent market, the Dodgers will have six pitchers vying for five spots in their rotation this spring. The signings also impact the Dodgers’ pitching pipeline.
