The Hiroshima Carp have accepted slugging outfielder Seiya Suzuki’s request to enter the posting system for a chance to move to the majors, officials with the Central League club said Tuesday.
Widely recognized as one of the country’s top players, the 27-year-old led the CL in batting and on-base percentage this season, his ninth in Nippon Professional Baseball.
“I am prepared to take the risk,” said Suzuki, a five-time All-Star.
The posting system is a transfer system that enables Japanese professionals to seek entry to MLB’s ranks. “Posted” players can negotiate with MLB clubs willing to pay their Japanese team a fee based on the value of the player’s eventual contract.
Suzuki joined Hiroshima in 2013 as a second-round draft pick out of Nishogakusha High School in Tokyo.
In his breakthrough 2016 season, he hit sayonara homers in back-to-back games. In 2018, he helped the team win its third straight league pennant.
Suzuki hit cleanup for Japan at the Tokyo Games this summer, helping the team win its first Olympic gold medal in baseball.
In 902 careers games, he has batted.315 with 182 homers and 562 RBIs.
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Source : Baseball – The Japan Times