Japanese Import

It appears that the Boston Red Sox have signed a third Japanese pitcher to their team, Junichi Tazawa, in addition to Daisuke and Okajima.

If reports are correct, the Red Sox will be paying Junichi around $6million over 3 years. For all you fantasy owners who love jumping on new players from Japan, you should wait and just keep this guys name on your radar for 2010 or Sept. 2009.

Junichi is not the typical pitcher that comes over to the major leagues. He is 22 years old. Some might say this is great since he is young and doesn't have a lot of milage on his young arm. The only problem is, he has not pitched in any professional games while in Japan. This kid is a product of the amateur company league in Japan. Note: Japan has a baseball league where companies form teams and compete against each other. He has never pitched in the Japan Professional League like Daisuke, Hideo Nomo, and Okajima.

He will be sent to the minors and developed through the Red Sox farm system. Owners, keep an eye out but this kid is not worth drafting in the 2009 draft.

Nomo

Not much of a fantasy helper but take it for what it is. Hideo Nomo of the Royals is back. He pitched 3 innings in relief against the Yanks and was tagged for 2HR's from A-rod and Posada.

Just news but fantasy owners have no need to think about this guy.

Japanese Sensation

The new $36 Million man, Hiroki Kuroda of the Dodgers, had his first taste of regular season major league players and he did not disappoint. Kuroda mixed fastballs, sliders, and splitters to baffle a hot hitting Padres lineup. This is not a surprise especially with his impressive numbers in the Nippon League. His stat line of 7IP, 3H, 1ER, 0BB, 4K, with 1HR is absolutely amazing. Owners should be happy he started well and this will do wonders for Kuroda's confidence. I still don't have a final answer on this pitcher until he pitches 3-5 starts.

One thing to note...it seems all pitchers who come from Japan have success, to a certain degree, in their first year of play. Do you remember someone named Hideo Nomo.

Nomo Nomo Nomo

Just some real baseball news. Hideo Nomo suffered a setback in his attempt at a comeback with the Royals. Nomo has an injury to his groin and will return to Arizona to get healthy and the Royals will make a final decision after the treatment.

Courtesy of MLB.com, please take a look at Nomo's impressive numbers throughout his MLB career.