It will be 20 years in February that So Taguchi, the Cardinals' first player signed out of the Japanese Leagues, reported to spring training at Jupiter, Florida after spending 10 years with the Orix Buffaloes in the Japanese Pacific League.
But for much of spring training, Taguchi, then nearly 33 years old, barely could get the ball out of the infield, and he found himself at Class AA New Haven before the season was over. He spent most of that year in New Haven and Class AAA Memphis and was at Memphis for much of 2003 and part of 2004 before finally making it with the Cardinals to stay at age 35.