18-year-old Japanese left-hander
Yusei Kikuchi has scheduled a press conference for Sunday to announce
whether he will pitch in the United States or remain in Japan.
According to Patrick Newman of NPB Tracker, recent media reports in Japan suggest that he will begin his career in Japan, however he also mentions the media are “hearing what they want to hear” in regards to the teenage phenom.
According to the Japan Times, Kikuchi has met with 20 Japanese and major league baseball clubs,
including the Dodgers, Red Sox, Rangers, Giants, Mariners, Mets,
Yankees and Indians. The Rangers have pushed hard to sign Kikuchi, even sending Derek Holland to Japan as part of their pitch.
The Nippon Professional Baseball draft is five days away, of which
Kikuchi is expected to be the No. 1 selection. The teenage southpaw
threw a 96 MPH fastball during the National High School Invitational in
April, the fastest pitch ever thrown by a left-hander since the radar
gun was introduced in national high school tournaments in 1980. If
Kikuchi decides to bypass the NPB draft, he would be following in the
footsteps of Junichi Tazawa, who signed a three-year, $3 million
contract with the Red Sox last December.
Stanton, Donaldson, Kahnle activated by Yankees ahead of Dodgers series
Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
LOS ANGELES — Giancarlo Stanton, Josh Donaldson, and Tommy Kahnle were activated by the New York Yankees ahead of their weekend series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
New York cleared three roster spots after a 1-0 loss at Seattle, optioning infielder-outfielders Oswaldo Cabrera and Franchy Cordero to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre along with left-hander Matt Krook.
Stanton, Donaldson and Kahnle all played in a rehab game for Double-A Somerset. Stanton was hitless in three at-bats in his first appearance since injuring his left hamstring on April 15.
Donaldson went 1 for 4 in his fourth rehab game as he comes back from a strained right hamstring originally sustained on April 5.
Kahnle pitched one inning, giving up one run and one hit and walking two. He has been out since spring training with right biceps tendinitis.
Aaron Boone said he wasn’t concerned about Stanton returning after playing in just one rehab game. He did say that Stanton likely will be a designated hitter for a couple of weeks after rejoining the Yankees.
New York is missing centerfielder Harrison Bader, who strained his right hamstring against the Mariners and went on the injured list the next day.
Left-hander Carlos Rodón, sidelined since spring training by a sore left forearm and an ailing back, was transferred to the 60-day injured list.