GaryMrMets
07-06-2005, 01:58 AM
Catcher Jojima could be next Japanese major leaguer
.c The Associated Press
TOKYO (AP) - Japanese catcher Kenji Jojima said Tuesday he will either remain with his current team next year or pursue a career in the North American major leagues.
Jojima, who plays for the Softbank Hawks in Japan's Pacific League, will be eligible for free agency at the end of this season. If he signs a North American deal, the 29-year-old would become the first Japanese catcher to play for a major league team.
``I have no interest in playing for another Japanese team,'' Jojima said Tuesday. ``It will come down to choosing between Softbank or my dream of playing in the majors.''
Jojima is a six-time Golden Glove winner and a seven-time All-Star.
A top draft pick of the Daiei Hawks in 1995, Jojima has a career .298 batting average with 187 homers, 1,079 hits and 642 RBIs in 1,001 games over his 10-year career.
Widely regarded as the best defensive catcher in Japanese baseball, Jojima is batting .307 this season with 20 homers and 43 RBIs for the for the first-place Hawks.
07/05/05 05:16 EDT
Copyright 2003 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
.c The Associated Press
TOKYO (AP) - Japanese catcher Kenji Jojima said Tuesday he will either remain with his current team next year or pursue a career in the North American major leagues.
Jojima, who plays for the Softbank Hawks in Japan's Pacific League, will be eligible for free agency at the end of this season. If he signs a North American deal, the 29-year-old would become the first Japanese catcher to play for a major league team.
``I have no interest in playing for another Japanese team,'' Jojima said Tuesday. ``It will come down to choosing between Softbank or my dream of playing in the majors.''
Jojima is a six-time Golden Glove winner and a seven-time All-Star.
A top draft pick of the Daiei Hawks in 1995, Jojima has a career .298 batting average with 187 homers, 1,079 hits and 642 RBIs in 1,001 games over his 10-year career.
Widely regarded as the best defensive catcher in Japanese baseball, Jojima is batting .307 this season with 20 homers and 43 RBIs for the for the first-place Hawks.
07/05/05 05:16 EDT
Copyright 2003 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.