San Diego Padres Sign Former NPB First-Round Pick to Minor League Deal

[Matthew Lenz]

The San Diego Padres continue to add options to their pitching staff in the form of low-risk minor league deals. However, this time it's in the form of a former 1st overall pick in the Nippon Professional Baseball league.

According to the team's transaction log, they have signed RHP Daichi Moriki to a minor league deal and have assigned him to the Arizona Complex League Padres.

Moriki, 22, was drafted by the Hanshin Tigers in 2021 and made his professional debut in 2022. In four seasons, he pitched in 66 games (149 1/3 innings), posting a 6.87 ERA, striking out 126 hitters, and walking 108. After struggling last season, he was released by Hanshin in October. The Yahoo Sports articles embedded in the X post below suggest that Moriki has been working at a baseball facility here in the States since his release, though it doesn't identify which one.

Do you think Moriki can make a name for himself in Major League Baseball? Let us know in the comments!

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