Kei Igawa pulled on his new pinstripes, stepped to the podium and threw his first US changeup.
His long hair freshly trimmed in accordance with team rules, the Japanese pitcher stood before a packed room at Yankee Stadium on Monday and explained -- in English -- how thrilled he was to reach the big leagues.
"Today, my lifelong dream became a reality: To be a Major League Baseball player," Igawa said, reading carefully from a prepared statement. "I will give you my best as a Yankee. I will do my best to win the championship for this great city, New York."
Set to trade Randy Johnson to Arizona, the Yankees introduced one of his potential replacements during a typically formal news conference attended by about 75 Japanese reporters.
Igawa agreed to a US$20 million, five-year contract with New York last month after the club bid US$26 million for his negotiating rights. The 27-year-old left-hander spent eight strong seasons with the Hanshin Tigers, going 14-9 with a 2.97 ERA and 194 strikeouts last year.
"We look for him to come in and solidify the back of the rotation," Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said. "I think the fact that he took the time today to learn a bit of English -- I think that was just a small indicator of the work ethic that he possesses as he tries to transition over here."
Igawa, who will wear No. 29, admitted he was awed by the moment and very nervous about speaking in English -- he practiced his speech for two days.
But he said he was completely comfortable trimming his trademark long locks to comply with Yankees rules, just as center fielder Johnny Damon did last offseason after leaving the rival Boston Red Sox.
"This is the way I was when the season started in 2006, so it's not that different," Igawa said through a translator.
"To be able to wear this uniform, there's such tradition and such honor that goes with it. I feel the responsibility," he said.
He joins a diverse group of starters that includes 19-game winner Wang Chien-ming of Taiwan, right-hander Mike Mussina and lefty Andy Pettitte.
The Yankees also have frequently injured right-hander Carl Pavano and several intriguing pitching prospects in Philip Hughes, Humberto Sanchez and Jeffrey Karstens.
The Yankees do not compare Igawa to Daisuke Matsuzaka, who agreed to a US$52 million, six-year contract with the Red Sox this offseason after they bid US$51 million for his negotiating rights.
Igawa has said that he is already looking forward to possible pitching duels with Matsuzaka, the MVP of the inaugural World Baseball Classic.
According to Nippon Professional Baseball, Igawa beat Matsuzaka 4-0 in their only head-to-head matchup in Japan, where interleague play was not instituted until 2005.
"He's not Matsuzaka," Cashman said. "Matsuzaka is a front end of the rotation guy."
Left fielder Hideki Matsui, a steady success with the Yankees after coming over from Japan in 2003, plans to help Igawa get comfortable in New York.
"I am very excited that Kei Igawa has become a member of the New York Yankees. We played against each other many times in Japan and I know firsthand that he is a highly talented player," Matsui said in a statement.
Bayer 04 Leverkusen go into today’s match at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim stung from their first league defeat in 16 months. Leverkusen were beaten 3-2 at home by RB Leipzig before the international break, the first loss since May last year for the reigning league and cup champions. While any defeat, particularly against a likely title rival, would have disappointed coach Xabi Alonso, the way in which it happened would be most concerning. Just as they did in the Supercup against VfB Stuttgart and in the league opener to Borussia Moenchengladbach, Leverkusen scored first, but were pegged back. However, while Leverkusen rallied late to
The lights dimmed and the crowd hushed as Karoline Kristensen entered for her performance. However, this was no ordinary Dutch theater: The temperature was 80°C and the audience naked apart from a towel. Dressed in a swimsuit and to the tune of emotional music, the 21-year-old Kristensen started her routine, performed inside a large sauna, with a bed of hot rocks in the middle. For a week this month, a group of wellness practitioners, called “sauna masters,” are gathering at a picturesque health resort in the Netherlands to compete in this year’s Aufguss world sauna championships. The practice takes its name from a
Japanese players are moving to English soccer in record numbers and more look set to follow with clubs attracted by their quality, strong work ethic and value for money. Kaoru Mitoma is the standout talent of five Japanese players in the English Premier League, with eight more in the Championship and two in League One. Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo, the captain of Japan, believes his compatriots are “being held in higher esteem” by English clubs compared with the past. “The staff at Liverpool ask me about lots of Japanese players, not necessarily with a view to a transfer, but just saying this or
Taiwan yesterday survived Bosnia and Herzegovina to win their Davis Cup World Group I tie at the Taipei Tennis Center. The tight series started on Saturday with world No. 123 Jason Tseng losing 3-6, 7-5, 6-4 to Mirza Basic in the opening singles matchup. However, teammate Tony Wu kept the tie even, dominating world No. 86 Damir Dzumhur 6-2, 6-1. Yesterday, 24-year-old Ray Ho and partner 25-year-old Hsu Yu-hsiou kept up the momentum, making short work of Basic and Nerman Fatic, winning 6-3, 6-4. Tseng then suffered another defeat, losing 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 to Dzumhur in a brutal match that lasted more than two