In this Aug. 3, 2014 photo, Shohei Otani of Nippon Ham Fighters pitches against Fukuoka Softbank Hawks in Sapporo, northern Japan. Boston Red Sox manager John Farrell is looking forward to seeing Japanese pitching sensation Otani during Major League Baseball's all-star postseason tour of Japan. (AP Photo/Kyodo News, File) JAPAN OUT, MANDATORY CREDIT (The Associated Press)
OSAKA, Japan – Boston Red Sox manager John Farrell is looking forward to seeing Japanese pitching sensation Shohei Otani during Major League Baseball's all-star postseason tour of Japan.
Farrell and 29 major league players arrived in Osaka on Sunday night ahead of their five-game series against Japan starting Wednesday. The MLB all-stars will also play two exhibition games during their tour.
Farrell, who is managing the MLB squad, singled out Otani as the player he is most interested in.
The 20-year-old right-hander went 11-4 with 179 strikeouts and a 2.61 ERA this season for the Nippon Ham Fighters. Otani also plays the outfield for the Fighters and posted a respectable .274 batting average with 10 home runs and 31 RBIs in 87 games. He is expected to pitch Game 5 at Sapporo Dome.
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