When (or if) Japanese two-way phenom Shohei Otani finds a clear path to the Major Leagues this offseason, the Yankees’ front office could potentially make a sales pitch to the 23-year-old with help from one of Japan’s greatest players.
Hideki Matsui, who currently works as one of the franchise’s special advisors, told MLB.com’s Deesha Thosar on Sunday afternoon that he’s observed Otani’s abilities as both a pitcher and hitter, and he hopes to soon meet the youngster marketed as “Japan’s Babe Ruth.”
“If [Otani’s] allowed to come here and the Yankees are interested, then I expect to be involved in that process as maybe trying to convince him or recruit him to the Yankees,” Matsui told Thosar through a translator.