The Cleveland Indians signed 21-year-old right-hander Kota Kobayashi to a minor league deal Friday after he was released from his developmental contract with the DeNA BayStars.
Kobayashi, taken by the BayStars out of high school in the 2009 developmental draft, has allowed 14 runs in 13 innings in three Eastern League seasons. He took part in a postseason tryout for players without contracts in Nippon Professional Baseball for 2013, but attracted the attention of the Indians with his control and the movement on his pitches.
It is expected that the 1.83-meter, 80-kilogram Kobayashi will play winter ball in Puerto Rico before reporting to spring camp in March.
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