Junichi Tazawa becomes the first blue chip Japanese prospect to skip the NPB draft and sign directly with a Major League Baseball team. He inks a three-year, $3.3 million deal with the Boston Red Sox. A member of Japan’s squad in the 2007 Baseball World Cup, he is projected to start 2009 at AA.

 

On December 4, 2008 — Junichi Tazawa becomes the first blue chip Japanese prospect to skip the NPB draft and sign directly with a Major League Baseball team. He inks a three-year, $3.3 million deal with the Boston Red Sox. A member of Japan’s squad in the 2007 Baseball World Cup, he is projected to start 2009 at AA.

 


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Sources:

Baseball Reference December 4
SABR Games Project
Hall of Fame
National Pastime December 4
Replay The Game
Retro Sheet