Some news out of left field here folks, the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters, of the Pacific league, just gave the green light that they will post star pitcher/outfielder/DH Shohei Otani, 22, next year in the off-season. According to the report, the organization said that Otani has done more than enough for the team… such as posting solid performances in these past years, and also mostly winning this year’s Nippon Series against the Hiroshima Toyo Carp, their first championship title since 2006… they say that Shohei Otani is ready enough for greater challenges overseas, resulting them to give their utmost approval to post Otani in the 2017 off-season… his lifelong dream to play in the Major leagues. With this finally happening, Shohei Otani will be the youngest ever player in NPB (Nippon Professional Baseball) to be posted, as he will be just 23 years old next year.

With the current posting fee cap, Major league teams who are willing to sign Shohei Otani must provide the maximum cap of 20 million USD for his Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters team, while another separate contract for Otani… which some sources stating that he’s worth at around 300 million USD, on a multi-year deal.

In his past 4 years playing in NPB, Shohei Otani, as pitcher, currently owns 39-13 record, and along with an earned run average of 2.49 in 80 games played (517.2 innings pitched). Meanwhile, as batter, he currently owns a batting line of .275/.347/.491 with 40 homeruns and 135 RBI in 338 games played (939 PA, with 833 AB) in his career. He finished his 2016 regular season campaign with a record of 10-4 and an earned run average of 1.86 in 21 games played (140 innings pitched) as a starter, while making one relief appearance in the 9th in the final game of the regular season against the Seibu Lions… also batting .322/.416/.588 with 22 homeruns and 67 RBI in 104 games played (382 PA, with 323 AB) in the year primarily as the team’s DH. He also won this year’s Pacific league MVP award, and the PL Best 9 Selection, both as a pitcher, and batter.