Right-hander Shohei Otani, the first player to be named to the Japan League's Best Nine team as a pitcher and hitter, said Monday that he wants to give Major League Baseball a shot as soon as the 2018 season, the Japan Times reported.
Otani, 22, re-signed Monday with the Nippon Ham Fighters for $2.37 million for 2017 but said he told team officials that he wants to head to North America the following season.
He is expected to be a sought-after player. His fastball was clocked at a Pacific League-record 102.5 mph, and he recorded 10 victories in 2016 while also batting .