Cleveland Indians minor league pitcher, RHP Toru Murata, 31, will be playing his next season with the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters of the NPB (Nippon Professional Baseball), an announcement was made yesterday afternoon. Via link, the contract details for Murata was said to be on a one-year deal worth an estimated 35 million Yen (315,600 USD in annual salary). The official contract will soon be signed in December as he returns to Japan, as he is still currently playing winter ball in Venezuela.

Toru Murata played for the Yomiuri Giants Ni-gun (minor league) level for 3 years in Japan after being drafted in year 2007, he then joined the Cleveland Indians organization after being released by his former NPB team… he made his Major league debut starting against the Baltimore Orioles back in June 28th of last year, pitching 3.1 innings while giving up a total of 5 runs (3 earned runs) in his only Major league start. He also played for 6 seasons there with the Indians minor league organization, owning a record of 46-28 with an earned run average of 3.76 in 164 games played (started 99 games, 675.2 innings pitched).