Interested in Shohei Otani?

[CaptainRedbeard]

Lost in the shuffle of the playoffs a couple days ago is a report of the Orioles being one of a few team interested in 18-year-old Japanese RHP Shohei Otani. I hadn't heard of him before, but it says he's already 6' 4'', 190 lbs and has been clocked at 99-100 mph. Check it out:

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2012/1...japan-mlb.html

Has anybody heard of this kid, or have any scouting reports on him? Sounds like he could be a special talent and a nice get to pair with Bundy and Gausman. He's apparently deciding between the NPB and coming to the US.

It's cool to see the Orioles connected with the Dodgers, Rangers, and Red Sox as teams prominent in the Japanese market. Just another thing I'm happy with DD's influence. It's hard to imagine he wants to be in the same spotlight as Darvish but it seems like somebody the Red Sox will be all over, like with Tazawa a few years back.

On a related note, is anybody excited to see what Wada will be able to do as a reliever? His NPB numbers are fantastic and although he may be too much of a soft tosser to play as a starter, that style definitely translates to the pen. I know we don't have room, but it would be awesome to have Uehara back and have two Japanese guys out there from either side. A reputation like that makes it easier to bring in guys like Otani.

[Catch 8]

I'd like Freddie Ferreira to see him live.

[Can_of_corn]

A team would have to use pretty much all of its 2.9 million international allotment to sign this kid.

[CaptainRedbeard]

A team would have to use pretty much all of its 2.9 million international allotment to sign this kid.

Yeah if he's really throwing that hard it'd probably be worth it for him to go to the NPB first and then shoot for a bigger contract later. But if he's also throwing that hard, he'd probably be worth the whole 2.9 from our end, so I'm glad we're at least looking.

[Crazysilver03]

A team would have to use pretty much all of its 2.9 million international allotment to sign this kid.

Good thing we havent used much of ours.

[BohKnowsBmore]

Any more word on this kid?

[CA-ORIOLE]

Interesting guy/dilemma here. While the signing team technically doesn't have to pay a posting fee to get this guy, it's considered against protocol to sign highly regarded HS Japanese players that other NPB teams are pursuing without requesting/receiving permission to do so. Not sure what that protocol involves though. Having lived in Japan for three years, I can imagine that might be a fairly extensive process. Considering our Korean fiasco last year, we probably need to tread carefully on this one.

[BohKnowsBmore]

^^^^ I understand you POV on this one. I looked around a little bit and there were a couple of reports from a few days ago that the kid has mentioned HE is set on playing in the MLB.

[bmorefan25]

when can MLB start to attempt to sign him

[Nigel Tufnel]

http://forum.orioleshangout.com/foru...ighlight=otani

[JohnnyK27]

Update from Japan

A couple more comments from Yusei Kikuchi regarding Otani's position: "I only thought about the risks, like not being able to speak English and about being in a place where there were no other Japanese people. That is why I decided not to [go to the US]. ... [Otani] has never approached me for advice. ... There is not wrong answer. I wish him luck whichever way he decides to go."

[BMoreKind]

Sounds like Otani is committed to signing with MLB despite the opinion provided by Yusei Kikuchi in the quote above. Ideally, DD can navigate through the issues surrounding the signing period without much difficulty before another MLB team swoops in and signs him. I would sign him ASAPracticable and even sacrifice next year's ability to sign an IFA for more than $100K because the budget done been busted for this year. Top-5 pick for certain if he were Rule 4. Nothing but money to get him. Keep the high ceiling pitching potential coming through the organization DD.

[OrioleMagic79]

Sounds like Otani is committed to signing with MLB despite the opinion provided by Yusei Kikuchi in the quote above. Ideally, DD can navigate through the issues surrounding the signing period without much difficulty before another MLB team swoops in and signs him. I would sign him ASAPracticable and even sacrifice next year's ability to sign an IFA for more than $100K because the budget done been busted for this year. Top-5 pick for certain if he were Rule 4. Nothing but money to get him. Keep the high ceiling pitching potential coming through the organization DD.

Yeah, keep 'em coming...I really want this kid...I always want kids that can throw 100+ MPH...give us the chance to groom him the way we want, and not the NPB's way...if there is a way to do it without upsetting the NPB, then I say do what it takes, but get the kid either way...