Japan hopeful Kikuchi eyes pitching in U.S.

Japan hopeful Kikuchi eyes pitching in U.S.

TOKYO, Japan - Yusei Kikuchi, ace pitcher of Hanamaki Higashi High School, pitches during a game at Koshien Stadium in Hyogo Prefecture on Aug. 12, 2009. Kikuchi, who threw the fastest ball as a high-school lefty at 154 kilometers in August, said on Sept. 8, 2009 that he wants to leave open the option of signing with a U.S. major league club without playing professional baseball in Japan.

Japan hopeful Kikuchi eyes pitching in U.S.

Japan hopeful Kikuchi eyes pitching in U.S.

TOKYO, Japan - Yusei Kikuchi, ace pitcher of Hanamaki Higashi High School, pitches during a game at Koshien Stadium in Hyogo Prefecture on Aug. 23, 2009. Kikuchi, who threw the fastest ball as a high-school lefty at 154 kilometers in August, said on Sept. 8, 2009 that he wants to leave open the option of signing with a U.S. major league club without playing professional baseball in Japan.

Japan hopeful Kikuchi eyes pitching in U.S.

Japan hopeful Kikuchi eyes pitching in U.S.

TOKYO, Japan - Yusei Kikuchi, ace pitcher of Hanamaki Higashi High School, pitches during a game at Koshien Stadium in Hyogo Prefecture on Aug. 23, 2009. Kikuchi, who threw the fastest ball as a high-school lefty at 154 kilometers in August, said on Sept. 8, 2009 that he wants to leave open the option of signing with a U.S. major league club without playing professional baseball in Japan. (Kyodo)

Japan hopeful Kikuchi eyes pitching in U.S.

Japan hopeful Kikuchi eyes pitching in U.S.

TOKYO, Japan - Yusei Kikuchi, ace pitcher of Hanamaki Higashi High School, pitches during a game at Koshien Stadium in Hyogo Prefecture on Aug. 12, 2009. Kikuchi, who threw the fastest ball as a high-school lefty at 154 kilometers in August, said on Sept. 8, 2009 that he wants to leave open the option of signing with a U.S. major league club without playing professional baseball in Japan. (Kyodo)