OSAKA (Kyodo) The Atlanta Braves signed 18-year-old right-hander Yoshinori Yamarin to a minor league contract on Monday.
Yamarin, who went undrafted in Japan last year out of Nissei Gakuen Daisan high school in Hyogo Prefecture, throws a fastball in the 145 km-per-hour range.
"I'll pitch aggressively. I hope to reach the majors in two or three years and join Kawakami-san on the team," Yamarin said in Osaka as he was introduced by the Braves.
Earlier this month, the Braves signed Kenshin Kawakami, a free agent from the Chunichi Dragons, to a three-year contract worth a reported $23 million.
Yamarin is scheduled to head to the Major League Baseball player development facilities in Australia in June.