Japanese Baseball Introduces Ban

Japan's professional baseball teams have introduced a ban on players who return from playing baseball overseas after decided to not enter the Japanese amateur draft. This is a response to highly coveted pitcher Junichi Tazawa decided to opt out of the draft and sign with a major league club. Japanese officials hope the move will discourage players from opting out of the draft, but rather play in Japan. While it is unlikely that it will stop anything, not many players want to do that. Playing in the Japanese Baseball League is an honor, and everyone who plays amatuer baseball in Japan hopes to make it there one day.

Tazawa has been scouted by the Red Sox, Yankees, Cubs, Mariners, Padres, and Rangers, among others.