Byung-Hyun Kim, 2001 World Series Goat vs. New York Yankees, Signs Deal in Japan

New York Yankees fans will always remember former Arizona Diamondbacks closer Byung-Hyun Kim as the submarine pitcher from the 2001 World Series who blew saves in Games 4 and 5, giving up a combined three home runs.

Kim continues to play baseball overseas, and NPB Tracker is reporting that he has just signed a deal with the Rakuten Golden Eagles in Japan.

B.H. Kim is one of those players who fans might be wondering about years after he left the spotlight.

The reliever played last year for Orange County of the independent Golden Baseball League. There are a few videos on the web of him still in action.

Last year, he signed a minor league deal with the San Francisco Giants. Ironically, they ended up winning the World Series later in the year after releasing him. He only pitched in one minor league game for them.

He does not have what it takes to make it in the major leagues any more, as he was cut by the Pirates a few years ago. The Pirates are a weak team, and if he couldn't excel in Pittsburgh, where the standards are lower than most teams, there is not much hope.

If fans want to catch Kim in action, they will have to travel all the way to Japan. His pitching style is enough of a show to have fans fall in love with him. Whether he performs well with it is another story.

He's only 32 years old, so he can't be considered a seasoned veteran from the major leagues. After 2001, he wasn't able to find his groove and disappeared off the baseball world's map.

Kim will make $400,000 with the Golden Eagles and don No. 99. If he hopes to make a name for himself again in baseball, that would require a Herculean leap in talent.

To Yankees fans, he will always be remembered as that pitching goat from the 2001 World Series who gave up the home runs to Tino Martinez, Derek Jeter and Scott Brosius.