TOKYO — Tatsuya Imai is anticipated to be the next Japanese pitcher transitioning to a Major League team after his team, Seibu Lions, announced on Monday that it would initiate the process to make him accessible — a procedure known as «posting.»
Imai, 27, achieved a record of 10-5 this season with an ERA of 1.92. The right-handed pitcher possesses a formidable fastball and has spent his entire professional career in Japan.
The announcement of his posting follows closely after Japanese sensation third baseman Munetaka Murakami commenced the posting process on Friday, as reported by sources. Murakami, 25, holds the single-season home run record for a Japanese player in Nippon Professional Baseball. He hit 56 home runs in 2022, surpassing Sadaharu Oh’s previous record of 55 set in 1964.
According to the agreement between Major League Baseball and Nippon Professional Baseball, the posting period for a player spans from Nov. 1 to Dec. 15. Players are allowed 45 days after posting to finalize a deal with an MLB organization.
Information from The Associated Press contributed to this report.
