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Shohei Otani | Starting Pitcher

Team: International Player
Age / DOB:  (18) / 7/5/1994
Ht / Wt:  6'4' / 190
Bats / Throws: Left / Right
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Recent News

Japanese right-hander Shohei Otani will join the Nippon Ham Fighters rather than seek a career in Major League Baseball.
Otani figures to come over to the states eventually, but for now he'll stick to tradition and playing professionally in his native country first. The 18-year-old right-hander would have created quite a bidding war between MLB teams given his exciting upside. Sun, Dec 9, 2012 08:30:00 AM
Source: Yasuko Yanagita on Twitter

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Player News

Date:
Shohei Otani - S - Player

Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times is hearing that Shohei Otani is likely to remain in Japan.

Otani has expressed a desire to jump from his high school in Japan straight to the professional ranks in the United States, but that would be breaking from tradition and might not be the best thing for his career. The 18-year-old right-hander was selected by the Nippon-Ham Fighters in October's Nippon Professional Baseball Draft. He'll remain on MLB radars for years to come.
Source: Bill Shaikin on Twitter
Mon, Dec 3, 2012 02:36:00 PM
Shohei Otani - S - Player

Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun reports that the Orioles have scouted Japanese right-hander Shohei Otani.

Executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette has connections in the far east, so it's not surprising that the O's have had someone out to see Otani. But, Connolly thinks it's unlikely Baltimore will go after him, as they already "ruffled feathers" by signing a Korean high schooler last year. Otani is under allegiance with the Nippon-Ham Fighters after being drafted by them Thursday. The Yankees, Red Sox, Dodgers and Rangers are known to have interest in the 18-year-old.
Related: Orioles
Source: Baltimore Sun
Fri, Oct 26, 2012 09:05:00 AM
Shohei Otani - S - Player

Baseball America's Ben Badler reports that Shohei Otani is free to sign at any time with a major league team.

This clears up a previous belief that Otani would have to wait for the negotiating window for Nippon Professional Baseball draftees to close in late March. The 18-year-old right-hander was drafted on Thursday by the Nippon-Ham Fighters but has made it known that he intends to sign with a Major League Baseball team this winter. And now he is apparently free to do so. The Red Sox, Dodgers and Rangers are known to have interest.
Related: Red Sox, Dodgers, Rangers
Source: Baseball America
Thu, Oct 25, 2012 04:10:00 PM
Shohei Otani - S - Player

Japanese right-hander Shohei Otani won't be allowed to sign with a major league team until early April.

Otani was drafted Thursday by the Nippon-Ham Fighters of Nippon Professional Baseball and is now technically under their control until the last day of March -- the deadline for signing drafted players in Japan. "My feelings haven’t changed," the 18-year-old told reporters after being selected. "I’m grateful that they appreciate me, but it doesn’t change my desire to play in America." The Red Sox, Dodgers and Rangers have expressed interest.
Related: Red Sox, Dodgers, Rangers
Source: The Journal News
Thu, Oct 25, 2012 12:17:00 PM
Shohei Otani - S - Player

Shohei Otani was drafted Thursday by the Nippon-Ham Fighters of Nippon Professional Baseball.

Otani made it known this past weekend that he intends to sign with a major league team this winter, but Japan's top league is not going to let him go that easily. The 18-year-old right-hander must now break from tradition and decline a spot in Nippon-Ham's organization. He'd be the first player to ever jump from a Japanese high school to the professional ranks in the United States. The Red Sox, Dodgers and Rangers are known to have interest.
Related: Red Sox, Dodgers, Rangers
Source: Ben Badler on Twitter
Thu, Oct 25, 2012 08:46:00 AM
Shohei Otani - S - Player

According to Sanspo, Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters general manager Masao Yamada intends to draft Japanese right-hander Shohei Otani.

Otani announced this weekend that he intends to sign with a major league team this offseason, but he declared himself eligible for the Nippon Professional Baseball draft first. If he is drafted by an NPB team, they will have the right to sign him until the end of March. In other words, it would delay him signing with an MLB team for several months. The Red Sox, Dodgers and Rangers have all met with the 18-year-old right-hander and he's expected to sign with one of them.
Source: NPB Tracker
Wed, Oct 24, 2012 01:27:00 PM
Shohei Otani - S - Player

Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington confirmed Tuesday that the club has met with Japanese right-hander Shohei Otani.

Otani, 18, announced this weekend that he intends to sign with a major league team this offseason. The Red Sox, Dodgers and Rangers have all met with the hard-throwing youngster and he's expected to sign with one of them. While interested teams will not have to submit a posting fee, he will be subject to the $2.9 million international spending allotment.
Source: Evan Drellich on Twitter
Tue, Oct 23, 2012 01:49:00 PM
Shohei Otani - S - Player

MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan reports that the Rangers have interest in Japanese right-hander Shohei Otani.

Otani, 18, announced this weekend that he intends to sign with a major league team this winter. He'd be the first player to ever jump from a Japanese high school to the professional ranks in the United States. The 6-foot-4 youngster is said to throw between 99 and 100 mph.
Related: Rangers
Source: MLBlogs.com
Mon, Oct 22, 2012 10:41:00 AM
Shohei Otani - S - Player

Japanese right-hander Shohei Otani will seek a career in Major League Baseball rather than turning professional in Japan.

The 18-year-old isn't ready for the majors, but he figures to draw plenty of interest from MLB clubs given that his fastball has been clocked as high as 99 mph. Otani has already been scouted by many major league teams, including the Dodgers and Red Sox. "I think I will start in the minor leagues but I want to challenge in the majors," said the 6-foot-4, 190-pounder. "It's been my dream since entering high school."
Source: Associated Press
Sun, Oct 21, 2012 10:28:00 AM

Depth Charts

Batters
PosRoleName
LF1Fred Lewis