It was 12:07 a.m. in Tokyo when Shogo Akiyama took center stage at the Handlebar Lounge at Great American Ball Park in a navy suit, black shoes and a blue tie that had red and white stripes.
There were eight TV cameras on him as he smiled and held up his new No. 4 Reds jersey surrounded by president of baseball operations Dick Williams, general manager Nick Krall and manager David Bell. He took more pictures when he removed his suit jacket to put on his jersey.
Akiyama, who signed a three-year, $21 million contract Monday, will become the Reds’ first Japanese player when he plays in his first game.