Japanese right-hander Masao Kida failed in his bid to return to the major leagues Friday when he was unable to impress the Chicago Cubs coaching staff in a tryout.
The Cubs decided not to hire Kida soon after the tryout, in which the 33-year-old pitched in several game situations at the National League team's camp on a day when pitchers and catchers of 12 teams reported to spring training.
Kida was released by the Orix BlueWave after going 8-5 with a 4.94 ERA last season. He had surgery on a recurring lower back injury in the offseason before coming to Arizona for the Cubs tryout.
Other Japanese players
Fellow Japanese Hideo Nomo showed up at the Los Angeles Dodgers' camp in Vero Beach, Fla. and threw 43 pitches in the bullpen after returning to the National League club for the first time in four years in a free agent deal.
In Peoria, Ariz., Shigetoshi Hasegawa joined closer Kazuhiro Sasaki in the Seattle Mariners' spring training following his five-year stint with the Anaheim Angles mostly as a reliever.
Kazuhisa Ishii, who signed a four-year, $12.2 million deal with the Dodgers earlier this month, is still waiting for the U.S. government to grant him a visa and will report to camp late.