One of the main reasons why Shogo Akiyama was drawn to the Cincinnati Reds was the opportunity to become the franchise’s first Japanese-born player.
He wanted to build his own path in the Major Leagues and he liked the challenge of adjusting to a new country. The Reds are the only MLB team to never have a Japanese player on their active roster.
So far, it appears to be a smooth adjustment to a new culture. He had lunch Tuesday at Skyline Chili, enjoying a 5-way while his two kids ate Coneys. He had an Italian dinner after arriving from Japan and he had a steak dinner Monday after he signed his three-year, $21 million contract.