Japanese pro-baseball player Shohei Ohtani has formally announced that he wants to join the major leagues.
(Shohei Ohtani / Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters)
"Today, I want to announce that I want to play in the major leagues from next season."
The 23-year-old Ohtani is a right-handed pitcher and a left-handed hitter. Two seasons ago, he notched up 10 wins on the mound, and he threw the fastest-ever pitch in a Japanese professional league game: 165 kilometers per hour. At bat, he belted 22 home runs, but injuries limited his playing time this past season.
He's now signed to the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters. The Pacific League club says it will allow Ohtani to use the posting system this off-season to try to land a deal with an MLB team. The arrangement lets players in the Japanese leagues move to the majors before they're eligible to become free agents.
◆notch up （記録や勝利を）達成する、収める
◆belt （ホームランなどを）打つ
◆land a deal （契約などを）物にする、獲得する
◆eligible 資格のある、適格な
