Japanese amateur pitcher eyes major leagues

Japanese amateur pitcher Junichi Tazawa is bypassing local pro ranks and aiming to move straight to U.S. Major League Baseball.

Tazawa, who has a 156-kph (97 mph) fastball, has opted to negotiate with major league teams and not enter Japanese baseball's amateur draft next month, where he was expected to be the top pick.

"I have a strong desire to test my abilities in America," the 22-year-old right-hander told reporters Thursday.

Tazawa's decision stokes fears that Japan is losing much of its baseball talent to the U.S., now including talented youngsters.

Several major league teams, including the Boston Red Sox and the Chicago Cubs, have scouted Tazawa who led Nippon Oil to the corporate league championship this season, earning four wins in five mound appearances.

Players from Japan's professional leagues need to wait nine seasons before becoming free agents.

No rules prevent MLB teams from pursuing Japanese amateurs. Kazuhito Tadano and Mac Suzuki are the only Japanese players to have played in the majors without playing Japanese pro baseball.