
AI-generated summary
Kaiba Taira used to be a closer, but this year he returned to the starting rotation and became the Seibu Lions' ace pitcher and performed well.
Taira Kaiba. (File photo)
[Sports Center/Comprehensive Report] Seibu Lions fireball ace Kaiba Taira has recently attracted the attention of many major league teams. According to "ESPN" reporter Jeff Passan, Kaiba Taira is expected to officially challenge the major leagues through the admission system in early November.
Kaiba Taira, who used to serve as a closer, officially returned to the starting rotation this season and became the ace pitcher of the Seibu Lions. He scored 11 wins and 4 losses in 21 games. He pitched 132 innings and struck out 124 times. His ERA was 1.36, the strikeout rate was 23.8%, and the walk rate was 8.46%. Taiwanese heavyweight Lin Anke, who joined the Seibu Lions this year, also became a teammate of Hiroshi Kaiba.
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"ESPN" reporter Pasan predicted that Kaiba Taira has a chance to complete the contract with a major league team before December 1st, U.S. time. Recently, Japanese media "Sankei Sports" and "Yakyu Cosmopolitan" also listed that teams including the Mets, Blue Jays, Yankees, Padres, White Sox, Cubs, Angels, Mariners and Rangers have sent people to observe Taira's recent starts.
Passan pointed out that Kaiba Taira's arsenal has eight pitches, including a four-seam fastball, a cutter, a changeup, a sweep, a slider, a fork ball, a two-seam fastball, and the rarely used curveball. This year's four-seam average speed of 95.6 miles (about 154 kilometers) is the fastest in the league, and has even reached 100 miles. Passan said that although some major league teams are worried that he is still more suitable as a reliever, some teams believe that he definitely has the conditions to be an excellent starting pitcher and is expected to attract a lot of interest in this year's free market.
In addition to Kaiba Taira, according to "ESPN" news, there will be at least two Japanese players this year, namely Teruaki Sato and Daimi Ito. They are expected to join the team in early November and complete the signing before December 1st, U.S. time.
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Kaiba Taira will complete the contract with the major league team before December 1st, U.S. time
Likely · Within months
Teruaki Sato and Daimi Ito will also challenge the major leagues through the admission system in early November.
Possible · Within months

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