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Sox interested in Tazawa?

Email|Link|Comments (11) Posted by Chad Finn, Globe Staff September 11, 2008 05:26 PM

The Japan Times reported that the Red Sox are one of a number of teams interested in Japanese righthander Junichi Tazawa, a top prospect who announced yesterday he will try to sign with a major league team in the United States rather than pitch in his native country's top professional league.

An excerpt from the Times article:

The highly unusual news came as a shock as the 22-year-old Tazawa was expected to draw the spotlight as the key figure in the first round of this year's autumn amateur draft in Japanese baseball.

If Tazawa does come to the US, it would be the first significant instance in which a major league team signed a pre-draft amateur player away from Japan.

A look at Tazawa, via YouTube.

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11 comments so far...

Red Sox Prospectus Reported on this last week he has a fast ball that sits around 93-94 tops out at 95 when he reaches back. pretty good slider and a great curve ball.

Posted by jon duggan September 11, 08 06:17 PM

Can he throw strikes or will he walk the line-up like Dice-K?

Posted by matt cassell all stars September 11, 08 09:34 PM

Can he throw strikes or will he walk the line-up like Dice-K?

Posted by matt cassell all stars September 11, 08 09:40 PM

He can walk the line up all day with a 16-2 record and a World Series win and Ring.

Posted by Phantomcanes September 12, 08 01:46 AM

Will he be as good as Daisuke? I sure hope so.

Posted by Mike September 12, 08 03:34 AM

I sure hope they get him so he can "walk the line-up" like Daisuke and go 16-2, with a 2.97 ERA....that would just "suck" **rolling eyes**. The Sox should go after Ben Sheets instead...so he can strain an oblique sneezing, or blow out a hammy putting on a flip flop. Or better yet, lets go after Carl Pavano instead.

Posted by steven September 12, 08 09:42 AM

When are people going to get it through their heads that wins are a horrible metric when measuring a pitcher's effectiveness? The 2.97 ERA is nice, but Dice-K's been lucky that all of those walks haven't come back to haunt him. High pitch counts don't help the bullpen, either. Oh, and don't count on him having the same luck against the likes of TB, CWS, or ANA in the playoffs. Look at the big picture, folks.

Posted by denver_soxfan September 12, 08 01:02 PM

does anyone know how this 22-year-old Japanese player with this much talent has never joined a Japanese big league team? I know they have an annual draft. Was he drafted before, but elected to not sign and stay with his minor league team? Was he a late bloomer? Any info would be cool. Thanks.

Posted by SJ September 12, 08 03:46 PM

Posted by SJ September 12, 08 04:05 PM

Is it me or do folks have a hard time rooting for Daisuke cuz he doesn't look like them? The guy has been HUGE for the rotation this year after pitching adequately last year. His stats are as good as Beckett's (and I'm taking nothing away from Beckett by making this comparison). In his time with the Sox, Matsusaka's ERA is 3.79 for the Sox, Beckett's is 3.78. Over the last two years, they've pitched about the identical amount of innings. But Matsusaka has the year Beckett had last year this year and the guy still doesn't get the credit Beckett got...ridiculous.

Posted by Ush September 13, 08 12:32 AM

I have seen the clips and he does not seen to have great of stuff. I would rather take my chances with the current young pitchers in the organisation. Plus think of this we were told dice k throw 95 plus, but with the bigger ball in the US he has thrown 90-94 so you talking about 88-91 with less control i.e dice k. Stick with the young kid over here

Posted by loooke October 9, 08 12:58 PM