Japan’s Next Export?

He hit two home runs in a game against the Chiba Lotte Marines on July 5 and has five roundtrippers on the season. Though he is clearly gifted both on the mound and at the plate, the consensus of pro scouts is that his MLB future lies as a pitcher.

“His best pitch is his fastball — anywhere between 94-100 miles per hour — and he has the ability to hit the lane he is aiming for,” said an American MLB scout who requested anonymity. “He’s not afraid to use both the inside and outside part of the plate.”

The scout makes it clear that Otani has all the tools needed to succeed at the highest level of the game. “All the scouts are impressed with the easiness of his delivery and efficiency of his arm speed. He is sound mechanically in his delivery and has been blessed with great arm speed.”

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *