Tateyama inks deal with Rangers

ARLINGTON, Texas (AFP) –

Japanese right-handed pitcher Yoshinori Tateyama, pictured on September 26, 2012, has signed a minor-league contract with the Texas Rangers that includes an invitation to the Major League Baseball team’s training camp.

Japanese right-handed pitcher Yoshinori Tateyama has signed a minor-league contract with the Texas Rangers that includes an invitation to the Major League Baseball team’s training camp.

Tateyama, a sidearm slinger who turns 37 next Wednesday, made 53 appearances for the Rangers as a reliever over the past two seasons and pitching in Japan’s Pacific League for the prior 11 years.

Tateyama is 3-0 with a 5.75 earned run average in his major league career but spent much of last year with the Rangers’ top development club near Austin, Texas. In 32 appearances, Tateyama went 4-0 with six saves and a 1.13 ERA.

The new deal ensures Tateyama will at least receive a look from the Rangers with an eye toward a return to the major-league roster next March.

Tateyama was a teammate of Rangers’ star pitcher Yu Darvish, also from Japan, for five seasons with the Nippon Ham Fighters from Hokkaido.