ARLINGTON -- Every move by Japanese two-way star Shohei Otani figures to be monitored closely by Major League scouts and executives in the coming months. The Mariners, apparently, intend to be one of the interested parties, as general manager Jerry Dipoto was in Tokyo to watch Otani pitch on Tuesday morning.
The Mariners confirmed that Dipoto, vice president of scouting Tom Allison, Japan-based scout Manny Noto and Mariners translator Antony Suzuki are in Japan this week scouting players.
The club wouldn't confirm specific interest in Otani or any other player, but Dipoto was spotted on a televised broadcast of Otani's start for the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters against the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles at the Sapporo Dome.