With only 11 days now until the 12 Japanese pro baseball teams begin spring training for the 2004 season and, by my unofficial count, the Central and Pacific League clubs have so far, through Jan. 19, signed up 62 non-Japanese personnel, including 54 players, two managers and six coaches.
Following is a team-by-team accounting of gaikokujin this year.
The defending Japan Series champion Fukuoka Daiei Hawks have dropped 2003 pitcher Matt Skrmetta and infielder Bryant Nelson, but kept pitcher Brandon Knight, outfielder Pedro Valdes, first baseman-DH Julio Zuleta and farm team hurler Anderson Gomes. The Hawks have acquired pitcher Hector Mercado from the Philadelphia Phillies.