Loe to be Japan’s next “big” thing
By john • Nov 20th, 2008 • Category: fukuoka softbank hawks, kameron loe, major leagues
There’s little doubt to me that Kameron Loe is about to become a legend. Loe, 27, who had been playing for the Texas Rangers has agreed to a two-year $2 million contract to pitch in Japan.
Now it’s not that Loe is a great pitcher, while he was pretty good out of the bullpen for the Rangers last season. It’s that Loe stands 6′7″ and that is going to draw many a fan to see the hurler.
Throw in his pet snake Angel and we have a recipie for success in Japan. When I lived in Japan we sometimes joked that if you took what was cool in America five years ago and did it in Japan today you’d be a cultural icon. Loe will undoubtely fit right in.
Loe will pitch the next two seasons for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of the Pacific League. The Rangers will be an undisclosed amount of cash for the former 20th round pick in 2002.
Last season Loe finished with a 3.23 ERA in 30 2/3 innings for the Rangers. Over five big league seasons Loe is 19-23 with a 4.77 ERA in 107 games.
He is not the first big leaguer to head across the ocean this winter.
Last weekend, the New York Yankees sold the rights to pitcher Darrell Rasner to the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles of the Japanese Pacific League for $1 million.
The move will clear a spot on the Rangers 40 man roster.
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