Dodgers Looking Far East

The Dodgers just signed two Korean pitchers, both formery of the Lotte Giants, to minor league contracts.  The first, Ji-Mo Lee, is 22 and was released by the Giants in 2008.  He’s changed his first name.  The other pitcher is 38 year old journeyman Hyang-Nam Choi.  Obviously, Lee has more upside.

The Dodgers and the Rangers have travelled to Japan to scout high school pitcher Yusei Kikuchi.  Mlbtraderumors.com says that the difference between Kikuchi and and 22 year old Junichi Tazawa, recently signed by the Red Sox last December, is basically that between a high school and a college pitcher: Tazawa is more polished and further along, but Kikuchi is better at age 18 than Tazawa was, so Kikuchi potentially has more upside.  Patrick Newman of NPB Tracker says that he doesn’t think that Kikuchi would command the same three-year, $3M deal that Tazawa received from the Red Sox.

Speaking of Japanese players, Akinori Iwamura, a converted third baseman, badly hurt his left knee trying to turn a DP and had to be carted off the field in today's game against the Marlins.  He’s likely to go on the DL, possibly for a long stint.  I’m a fan of Iwamura, so I’m sad it happened and wish him well.