Highly touted Japanese pitcher-outfielder Shohei Otani will be posted by the Nippon Ham Fighters, according to Kyodo News, allowing him to sign with a major league team next season.
Fighters manager Hideki Kuriyama says "everyone in our ballclub accepts his thoughts," Kyodo reported Friday.
Otani is the reigning Pacific League MVP and is 3-2 with a 3.20 ERA this year. Despite thigh and ankle injuries, he batted .332 in 65 games with 16 doubles, eight homers and 31 RBIs. He had ankle surgery last month.
He has a 42-15 record with a 2.52 ERA and 624 strikeouts in 543 innings over five seasons, and a .