Japanese right-handed pitcher Kaima Taira set to move to Major League Baseball
TOKYO (AP) — Japanese right-hander Kaima Taira wants to move to Major League Baseball.His team, the Seibu Lions, announced it will allow him to pursue a career in MLB via the posting system that allows certain players to sign abroad.
Japanese right-handed pitcher Kaima Taira is set to move to Major League Baseball (MLB). His current team, the Seibu Lions, has granted him permission to pursue a career abroad through the posting system. At 26 years old, Taira had an impressive season in Japan, going 12-5 with a remarkable 1.36 ERA. His career record in Japan stands at 37-24.
Speaking to Kyodo, Taira expressed his aspiration to win a Cy Young award and pitch in the World Series. In 2025, he recorded 31 saves for the Lions. This news follows another Japanese player, Teruaki Sato, who recently announced his intention to join American baseball. Sato had a standout season, hitting 39 home runs and amassing 106 RBIs.
Japanese players have made significant contributions to MLB, especially in the past three decades. Ichiro Suzuki, a former Mariners star, was inducted into the Hall of Fame. In 2025, Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto helped the Los Angeles Dodgers secure their first repeat World Series championship in a quarter-century, with Ohtani winning his fourth MVP award and Yamamoto earning the World Series MVP.
Written by urgent.news from Yahoo Sports's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
This story
This is one outlet's version. Read the fullest account.
