Rakuten Eagles pitcher Norimoto would be 'honoured' to be selected for Japan's Olympic baseball team
04/02/2021 1 Minute Read

Rakuten Eagles pitcher Norimoto would be 'honoured' to be selected for Japan's Olympic baseball team

The former NPB Pacific League five-time strikeout champion said he would be honoured if selected for Japan's National Team, which will compete in the Olympics this summer on home soil.

Samurai Japan National Baseball Team manager Atsunori Inaba visited the Spring Training Camp of the Rakuten Golden Eagles of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) and had a chance to talk with pitcher Takahiro Norimoto.

The 30-year-old former Pacific League five-time strikeout champion and 2015 WBSC Premier12 alum has suffered a couple of injury-plagued seasons and is eying a comeback season in 2021.

The 2013 Rookie of the Year enjoyed six consecutive season with double-digits wins before converting into a reliever.

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The right-hander expressed a strong commitment to represent Japan's Olympic/National Team.

"I would be honoured if selected, [but] first of all, I need to play well and help my team win," Norimoto told local press.

Japan's pitching staff for this summer's Olympics could potentially include fireballer Norimoto and Eagle teammate Masahiro Tanaka, the former New York Yankee ace who opted to play in Japan this season.

Norimoto is in the third year of a seven-year contract worth reportedly 300 million yen (US$ 2.84 million) per season.

Tokyo 2020 – Olympic Baseball