High school pitcher Kikuchi opts for Japan over major leagues

Sour grapes or learning lesson from Matsuzaka's failure(?)

“I don’t think I have what it takes to complete at the world level yet,”

Of course you're not ready for the majors, but after two or three years in the minors you will be. 8 to 10 years of Japanese Baseball = dead arm.

Serious mistake, he's basically just gave whoever signs him 40+ million dollars because they will have to buy him out from that team. Whoever told him he would be better off in Japan was wrong and selfish.

Whoever told him he would be better off in Japan was wrong and selfish.

he is an 18 year old Japanese boy. How will he survive in the US without his family? He cannot and his family cannot got with him. He made the right choice for his life but not for his arm.

bobbafett: 18 year old is an adult, he would be given a massive salary to live on that his entire family could probably live on. He would only have to play for half a year and could easily return whenever he wanted. I can't understand your fragile logic that he wouldn't survive without his family or living in the US.

I don’t think I have what it takes to complete at the world level yet,” Of course you're not ready for the majors, but after two or three years in the minors you will be. 8 to 10 years of Japanese Baseball = dead arm.

So true...

He ought to go to College first, instead of jumping to the pros. If he goes to college, he'll mature more naturally. Saito, the pitcher for Waseda, is already more mature than Tanaka for Rakuten, and barring injury, he wil be the best pitcher in JPBL in the very near future. And I agree, if he had gone to the USA and entered the minors for a few years, he would have matured far better than he will in the Japan Leagues. The reason why Matsuzaka and Tanaka blow up whenb they get in to jams is because they're still immature.

College? the players who go to college are low level prospects with little chance of been a major leaguer.

This kid basically commited himself to 9 years in Japan. What a mistake.

Serious mistake, he's basically just gave whoever signs him 40+ million dollars because they will have to buy him out from that team. Whoever told him he would be better off in Japan was wrong and selfish.

He made a right move. It's not all about money. He might not have the maturity to handle to another culture and become successful. At 18 years old. Kikuchi needs a right seasoned pitching coach that works with him patiently and develop his confidence.Later, if he does well in Japanese Baseball , he will get plenty of opportunity to play anywhere with condfidence. He has time on his side.

Later, if he does well in Japanese Baseball , he will get plenty of opportunity to play anywhere with condfidence. He has time on his side.

No he doesn't, to be a free agent he needs to wait 9 years, otherwise he can be bought out from the team (he will get no money from it). Either way he loses, if the major league thought he was good enough then I think he is good enough.

18 year old is an adult

Not in japan.

Goodguy, tell that to Saito at Waseda U. He and Tanaka iof Rakuten were both highly prized coming out of high school. Tanaka went for the money, and now has maturity issues on the mound (just like Matsuzaka in Boston). Saito has done little else except win at Waseda, and he's gettign an education for free.

This cat will end up the same way as Matsuzaka and Tanaka. Flashy, streaky, and inconsistent as a pitcher, and despite his great stuff, will have severe, major issues when things don't go his way on the mound...

He should play at foreign stage as soon as possible because he got a chance. And he has many good points of his performance like his great fast ball, good control, flexibility of his shoulders. So he must play at major reagues.