We’re still three weeks from the start of spring camp, but things are going on. One player who tried MLB is returning with a new NPB team, while three more players have been selected, if not officially named, to Japan’s WBC team, and one former star has a new gig.
Shall we get to it?
Arihara now a Hawk
Kohei Arihara, the top pitcher in the Nippon Ham Fighters’ rotation after Shohei Ohtani’s departure and more recently a Texas Ranger, has returned to Japan with the SoftBank Hawks.
Making use of Twitter, he said, for the first time, new Texas Rangers pitcher Kohei Arihara left Japan for the United States on Sunday — see the translation below.
“I’m Kohei Arihara of the Texas Rangers, and I’m now departing for America, and I’ve begun using Twitter. Because of the coronavirus, it is a very difficult situation, I feel incredibly happy because I’m able to realize my dream of challenging myself in the major leagues. Although I am anxious about various things, I am going to give it my all. Here I go.”
— new Texas Rangers pitcher Kohei Arihara via Twitter
