Nippon Jobs》Sawamura rewarded strong caster Ito Daimi and considers challenging the major leagues. Ham wants to offer multi-year contracts to retain players.
Quick Look
- Nippon Ham's 29-year-old ace pitcher Dai Ito, according to Nikkan Sports, will consider challenging the Major League Baseball through the admissions system, and may also choose to stay with the Nippon Ham.
- He pitched 10-10 with a 3.18 ERA this year and is currently signed with the agency Wasserman, whose clients include Osamu Darvish and Yunobu Yamamoto.
- If he decides to challenge the major leagues, he will go to the United States as soon as November; if he stays with the team, Ham will offer a multi-year contract with an escape clause.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Daimi Ito is the ace pitcher of the Nippon Professional Baseball Ham Team. He won the Sawamura Award last year. This year is his sixth season in Nippon Professional Baseball. The Hams lost to the SoftBank Hawks in the final round of the playoff climax series for three consecutive years.
Itouhai. (File photo, taken by reporter Lin Zhengkun)
[Sports Center/Comprehensive Report] Nippon Ham has lost to the SoftBank Hawks in the final round of the playoff climax series for three consecutive years. According to "Nikkan Sports" report, Nippon Ham's 29-year-old ace pitcher Ito Daimi will consider challenging the major league stage and also consider staying with his old club Nippon Ham as an option.
Ito Daimi, who won the Sawamura Award last year, is in his sixth season in the Nippon Professional League this season. He has pitched in 3 of 26 games this season, including 1 shutout, and made 19 quality starts. He has 10 wins and 10 losses, an ERA of 3.18, and a total of 184 hits in 172.2 innings. The batting average is 0.271, and the WHIP per inning is 1.26. The fastest pitch this year is 154 kilometers.
Please read on...
"Nikkan Sports" pointed out that if Ito Dai decides to challenge the major leagues through the admission system, the Hams will release him. However, the Hams consider that he can become an overseas free agent as early as mid-season in 2029, so the Hams will propose multiple-year contracts including an escape clause to retain him.
Daiichi Ito is currently contracted with agent Joel Wolfe, an affiliate of the large brokerage company "Wasserman". His clients include the Padres' famous Japanese investment firm Tatsumi Osamu and the Dodgers' Japanese strong investment firm Yushin Yamamoto.
However, "Nikkan Sports" mentioned that this year's major league labor agreement will expire on December 1, and there is a possibility of closure, resulting in the complete suspension of all contract negotiations. Therefore, Ito Dai will quickly decide whether to exercise the admission system, and will negotiate with the Ham Club in the near future. If he decides to challenge the major leagues, he will go to the United States as soon as November.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Daimi Ito will decide by November whether to challenge for the major leagues
Likely · Within weeks
The Hams will offer a multi-year contract with an escape clause to keep Ito Daimi
Likely · Within weeks
Open Questions
- Will Daimi Ito finally challenge the major leagues through the admission system?
- What kind of contract conditions will the Hams provide if he stays on the team?
- Will Major League Baseball’s collective bargaining agreement really lead to closures?
