Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009

HANAMAKI, Iwate Pref. (Kyodo) Yusei Kikuchi's decision to begin his professional career in Japan relieved Japanese baseball officials Sunday, but it appeared to be largely driven by the older people around the 18-year-old, not by himself.

Tug of war: High school pitcher Yusei Kikuchi's decision to start his pro career in Japan has raised eyebrows. KYODO PHOTO

Major league clubs learned Kikuchi would be one of their attractive non-draft free agents on the shopping list this offseason when the Hanamaki Higashi High School left-hander said last month he wanted to pitch in the United States as soon as possible.

The old guard in Japanese baseball was stunned to hear the future star's intention, especially after Junichi Tazawa became the first high-profile amateur player last year to snub the domestic leagues to pursue a career in North America.

Hanamaki Higashi baseball team manager Hiroshi Sasaki knew how Tazawa's Nippon Oil manager Hideaki Okubo was criticized by Japanese baseball for his role in the right-hander's decision.

Sources close to Kikuchi even expressed concern that his school would come under fire if it allowed him to leave Japan.

"I spoke with my parents over the phone many, many times about which league I should choose to play in next year. I also consulted with the manager," Kikuchi said Sunday. "In the end, I decided I would like to pitch against the world's best after establishing myself in the Japanese pro leagues."

Before announcing his decision, Kikuchi first met all 12 Japanese teams and then listened to eight major league clubs in an apparent move by Hanamaki Higashi officials to avoid any dispute with their own people.

Asked when he set his sights on the major leagues at Sunday's press conference, Kikuchi said, "As soon as I entered high school, I said to myself: I'm going there right after high school. Major league baseball has been my dream since I was in elementary school."

Mac Suzuki is the only Japanese player who went to the United States in his teens and made the majors without playing pro baseball in Japan.

The right-hander made his major league debut in 1996 at age 21. It took him four years to reach the majors.

Suzuki later joined Japan's Orix BlueWave in 2003 as their second-round draft pick after winning 16 games in the big leagues.

"I'd like to continue to support Kikuchi as he moves into professional baseball," Hanamaki Higashi manager Sasaki said. "Kikuchi is going to the majors after he proves his worth in Japan, where he was raised."

Major League scouts, meanwhile, could not hide their disappointment over Kikuchi's decision to stay at home.

"His decision is no surprise, I guess," said Seattle Mariners scout Yasushi Yamamoto, who hoped that Kikuchi would become another Japanese star on the team following Ichiro Suzuki and Kenji Jojima.

"It takes a lot of courage to go over there. I wanted him to be a trailblazer (as the first high-profile Japanese high schooler to sign with a major league club)."

New York Mets scout Isao Ojimi said, "Kikuchi is a talented young man. I don't understand why the adults didn't encourage a man like him to try to pursue his dream."

Kikuchi was in tears at the end of Sunday's press conference.

"That's because he can't make his dream come true and he feels sorry for us — major league people," Ojimi said.

Japanese baseball will hold the amateur draft Thursday. A number of teams are expected to name Kikuchi as their first-round choice.

The Seibu Lions said Monday they are considering acquiring the services of 46-year-old Kimiyasu Kudo, who was has been left off the Yokohama BayStars's roster for next season.

If all goes as planned, Kudo, who is the oldest active player in Japanese baseball, will return to his former club for the first time since 1994.

"The decision has not been made but we are interested in him as a potential member of our team," said Lions manager Hisanobu Watanabe.

Kudo has been hoping to continue his career with another club.

"Kudo has good command and more velocity than our left-handed relievers who pitched this season," said one team official.

Kudo joined the Lions in 1982 and spent 13 seasons there.

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