Yusei Kikuchi's decision to begin his professional career in Japan relieved Japanese baseball officials Sunday, but it appeared to be largely driven by the older people around the 18-year-old, not by himself.
Major league clubs learned Kikuchi would be one of their attractive non-draft free agents on the shopping list this offseason when the Hanamaki Higashi High School left-hander said last month he wanted to pitch in the United States as soon as possible.
The old guard in Japanese baseball was stunned to hear the future star's intention, especially after Junichi Tazawa became the first high-profile amateur player last year to snub the domestic leagues to pursue a career in North America.