Japanese ace RHP Kaima Taira set for move to MLB

TOKYO (AP) — Japanese right-hander Kaima Taira wants to move to Major League Baseball.

Taira’s team, the Seibu Lions, announced it will allow him to pursue a career in MLB via the posting system that allows certain players to sign abroad.

Taira went 12-5 and led Nippon Professional Baseball – the top league in Japan – with a 1.36 ERA this season. The 26-year-old has a career record of 37-24 in Japan.

“As a pitcher, my goal is to win a Cy Young award,” the Japanese news agency Kyodo quoted him as saying. “And I’d like to pitch in the World Series as well.”

In 2025, Taira had 31 saves for the Lions.

Japanese slugger Teruaki Sato recently announced he also wants to move to American baseball. He hit 39 home runs this season with 106 RBIs.

Japanese players have made a huge mark on MLB, particularly over the past three decades.

Former Mariners star Ichiro Suzuki has been elected to the Hall of Fame. Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto in 2025 helped the Los Angeles Dodgers become MLB’s first repeat World Series champion in a quarter-century, with Ohtani earning a fourth MVP award and Yamamoto selected World Series MVP.

Seattle Sports staff made a minor addition to this story.

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