21 year old stud and soon to be star Major leaguer Shohei Ohtani was just magnificent against their arch rivals South Korea last night in this Premier 12, in 6 scoreless innings for team Japan in a 5-0 win, he allowed 2 hits struck out 10 batters and just walked 2. While for the offense, Yomiuri Giants shortstop Hayato Sakamoto and Chunichi Dragons Ryosuke Hirata both drove in 2 runs for team Japan with Tetsuto Yamada driving in 1 run. The 1.93 meter tall RH starter faced a jam in the 5th inning, putting on runners at first and second (a double by Park Byung-ho and a walk to Son Ah-seop), but striking out all 3 batters next in the process (Kyoung Min-hur, Kang Min-ho and Na Sung-bum) to end the threat.
Here are some of Shohei Ohtani’s highlights, also touching 161 kph in the radar gun (100 mph).
A fastball at 156 kph, 158 kph, 155 kph and a very devastating splitter thrown at 147 kph (91 mph) to retire soon to be Major leaguer, Lee Dae-ho.
For the South Korean side, possible 2016 Major leaguer Kim Kwang-hyun lasted just 2/2 3 innings, allowing 2 earned runs on 5 hits and 2 walks for the loss… while Park Bung-ho went 2 for 4 with a strikeout, Lee Dae-ho went 1 for 4 with 2 strikeouts, Son Ah-seop went 1 for 2 with a single and 2 walks, and Hwang Jae-gyun on a pinch hitting role went 0 for 1 with a strikeout.
Also, what could be a possible number 9th in the “https://scoutsaysweitersisabust.wordpress.com/2015/11/05/foreign-players-well-soon-see-in-the-major-leagues/” list.
Matsuda eyes move to majors.
In other news, infielder 3rd baseman Nobuhiro Matsuda, who helped lead the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks to a second straight Japan Series title, will exercise his right to become a free agent, eyeing a possible move to the major leagues, it was learned Monday.
According to a team source, Matsuda, 32, has narrowed his options to returning to the Hawks or going to the majors. The team is prepared to offer a lucrative, multiyear contract to get him to stay, the source said.
This past season, Matsuda had a career-best 35 home runs and 94 RBIs. Over his 10-year career, he has 1,089 hits and a .277 average in 1,064 games.
(Here’s his statement via, Tokyosports)
“Many baseball players dream of playing in the Majors. I wasn’t necessarily the exception, but the Majors felt out of reach so I never imagined it would be a possibility for me.
But, it is also true that with this opportunity to represent Japan and play against teams from other countries that I developed a much stronger desire to become better.
In hearing from players with MLB experience and seeing my name in the news, I started wondering if I could actually play in the Majors, if someone out there might be willing to give a chance. If I want to find out, now is the best time.
I know it won’t be easy at my age and with my skill set, but baseball lives are short and to make sure I have no regrets, I decided to exercise my FA option to gauge interest.
This option isn’t about going to another team, it’s about wanting to find out what MLB teams think of me and if there might be an opportunity for me to play in the Majors.”
The San Diego Padres are reported as the team that has interest in him.
Fan Interference 
Lol, how’d you mess that up back there?
LikeLiked by 1 person
No idea, the first statement I wrote back there didn’t appear so I made a new one, and that still didn’t appear then the 3rd one finally appeared. After that, BOOM. It’s a flood. HBT is slowly turning into a mess.
LikeLike
Slowly????
HBT turned into a steaming pile of excrement immediately after that ill-advised “extreme makeover” and Craig’s subsequent pissing-off of the regular commenters drove Scout to create this place. I, for one, am damn glad he did, as HBT has become PFT without the intelligence and thoughtfulness..
LikeLiked by 2 people
Lol I know right? Well I’m only going there for the comments anyway and that is about it, this site is way more better. I lost the will to make comments of my own when HBT version 2.0 came out on my screen with a ton of freaking ads! Ha.
LikeLiked by 3 people
What HBT used to be was unique in sports blogs – at least, in my humble experience. A community of passionate, intelligent people who for the most part respected each other and loved baseball. There would be arguments but I feel at the end of the day, the love of the game won out every time.
There’s so much negativity over there now. Also, unreadable.
Our little blog isn’t perfect but we have two things going for us – we are trying to be our best, and we respect our readers.
LikeLiked by 3 people
A key difference is that the readers here are also the writers. It guarantees the site reflects its membership.
LikeLike
“Badassery at it’s finest…”
On the money, Ren! Baseball needs more badassery… and less asshattery.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ren has there been any additional whispers about Otani coming to the states? I know he was considering skipping the Japanese league altogether but decided to stay and get drafted. But I haven’t seen anything here in the US about him wanting to be posted.
LikeLike
In Ohtani’s case, I think we still have to wait 3 or 4 years for him to be eligible (for posting), this is already his 3rd season/year with his team now so it won’t be long. For one to have an international option, like in Matsuda’s (FA) case, that player will need at least 9 years worth of service time on the active roster for the team.
Ohtani’s dream to become a Major leaguer will stay, and that will never change. Which is why putting on such a performance such as this is something he would like to continue while he’s still in the NPB. He wants to attract as many well known MLB teams as possible.
LikeLike
Still have to 3/4 more years on Ohtani, 6 or 7 years in total are needed for any said player to be eligible for posting.
LikeLike