The Seibu Lions were fielding a toothless lineup early in the NPB season while Ernesto Mejia was up to his usual hard-hitting trick on the other side of the world with the Gwinnett Braves, the Triple-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves.
So, in need of a bat, the Lions reached out, and Mejia, interested in a fresh start after a long career in the minors, seized the opportunity to join the team in May.
There have been a litany of similar stories in NPB through the years. Japanese teams mine western leagues throughout the year in the search for talent who can fill any holes that appear during the season or simply add depth.
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