RAKUTEN BRINGS BACK FORMER CLOSER

After flirting with first place in the Pacific League standings earlier this season, the fading Rakuten Eagles have brought back their former closer in an effort to shore up the team’s bullpen. On June 19, the Eagles announced that 32-year-old Kazuo Fukumori has returned to the club.


Fukumori saved 49 games for Rakuten between 2005 and 2007, including a 2006 season in which he turned in 21 saves with a 2.17 ERA and his first All-Star Game appearance. He was picked for the All-Star Game again in 2007, but experienced pain in his right pitching elbow and was not as effective. Fukumori then had a disastrous stint in America with the Texas Rangers in 2008, making only four appearances in April with a 20.25 ERA. He was sent down to the minors that month and was never recalled. Fukumori was signed by the Eagles after a tryout earlier in June.

The 29-29 Eagles may need more than Fukumori to overcome Nippon Ham and Softbank in the Pacific League standings. The Fighters lead the PL with a 34-24-1 record, one game ahead of the 33-25-1 Hawks. In the Central League, the Yomiuri Giants are 36-18-6, good for a three-game lead over the 34-22 Yakult Swallows. The Chunichi Dragons are in third place at 20-29-1.