For Better, For Worse: Top Japanese imports hit fantasy market

Discussion in the MLB News forum

Americans have played professional baseball in Japan since the 1960s. The practice is so widespread that every Japanese team has a "gaijin," and Bobby Valentine even manages a team. The flow of talent had been mostly one-way until just over a decade ago when the Dodgers imported Hideo Nomo in 1995, who then won NL Rookie of the Year. That proved that the Japanese hurlers could pitch to major league hitters. But could the Japanese hitters thrive in the majors? It took a few years for a position player to test the waters when Ichiro Suzuki took the leap in 2001, winning the AL MVP.

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[Full Article: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/fantasy/05/24/forbetter.forworse/]

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