PEORIA Mickey Mantle Jersey , Ariz. (AP) — , in the prefecture of Iwate, about 300 miles from the Tokyo Dome.This is where Kikuchi became a star. Where he was a prep phenom. Where his left arm was so good he seriously considered skipping playing professional baseball in his home country to immediately go where he always wanted to be: the major leagues.“When I was smaller I was watching all the Japanese players play well in the major leagues and that was the time all these Japanese players were coming to the major leagues and I was saying, ‘Even if I’m Japanese I will be able to make it to the majors if I work hard,'” Kikuchi said recently through an interpreter. “I was given that dream by all these former players and that is why I wanted to come to the states.”Kikuchi was determined from the time he was 15 years old to be the next great Japanese import to dazzle American fans and befuddle major league hitters. That dream is now the reality for the newest starting pitcher for the Seattle Mariners.In a twist, his debut will come a few hundred miles from where he first made a name for himself at Hanamaki Higashi High School. He will start the second game of the 2019 season against the Oakland Athletics inside the Tokyo Dome next week.While his MLB debut is coming in Japan, Kikuchi has been preparing to make America his home for more than a decade. He studied English and answered the majority of questions in English at his introductory news conference . He scouted the best left-handed pitchers in the majors to see what made them successful. He visited the U.S. on numerous occasions to begin learning the culture.“I went to a couple of ballgames and I looked at the atmosphere and said, ‘Hey, this is the place I want to play http://www.yankeesfanproshop.com/authentic-giancarlo-stanton-jersey ,’ and I set that goal when I came to the states,” Kikuchi said. “And during the offseason I worked out at the gyms over here to get used to the American workouts, get used to the American food here.”The Mariners, as much as any team in baseball, are keenly aware of how much Kikuchi wanted to be in the states. They were in the middle of the conversations in 2009 when Kikuchi nearly bypassed playing professionally in Japan to sign with a major league club then.“Our general feeling on Yusei was we had more information on him than just about any free agent player that we could imagine because it had been such an extended look,” Seattle general manager Jerry Dipoto said. “We’ve seen his entire career in (Nippon Professional Baseball). I would say if anybody saw Yusei Kikuchi pitch more than we have over the last 10 years, I’d be surprised.”His preparations aside, Kikuchi still has to prove he can pitch here. His fastball sits in the mid-90s, but it’s the offspeed pitches — specifically a looping curveball — that will keep hitters guessing. Kikuchi also hides the ball in his windup until it’s nearly out of his hand.“If you spend any time around Yusei Roger Maris Jersey , he’s not here to play in the game,” Dipoto said. “He’s here to make a mark in the big leagues, and we’re pretty excited for who he is as well as what he brings.”Seattle would like to have Kikuchi throw around 170 innings this season, which is what he’s averaged the past two seasons in Japan. Not only will there be an adjustment to taking the ball every fifth or sixth day, Kikuchi acknowledged his pregame routine must also be different.For his first spring training start , Kikuchi was on the field nearly an hour before taking the mound, leading to some awkward downtime throwing outside of the dugout while waiting for the game to begin.Kikuchi and the Mariners hope this is the beginning of a long relationship. He has a guaranteed deal for four years, and if he’s successful, it can be extended to seven seasons worth $109 million if all options are exercised.Kikuchi believes success in his first year will be dictated by how well he adjusts.“I think first and foremost getting use to the culture and adjusting to everything http://www.yankeesfanproshop.com/authentic-giancarlo-stanton-jersey ,” he said. “Also staying healthy throughout the whole year and making sure I can pitch all year.” SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Outfielder Adam Jones and the Arizona Diamondbacks have finalized a $3 million, one-year contract.Jones is likely to start in center field between Steven Souza Jr. in right and David Peralta in left, pushing Ketel Marte into a utility infield and outfield role.Jones can earn $2 million in performance bonuses for plate appearances: $250,000 for 250 and each additional 50 through 600. He would get a $250,000 assignment bonus the first time he is traded.To clear a roster spot Monday, Arizona put right-hander Silvino Bracho on the 60-day injured list because of a torn elbow ligament that will require Tommy John surgery.A 33-year-old five-time All-Star and four-time Gold Glove winner, Jones spent the last 11 big league seasons with the Baltimore Orioles after making his debut in 2006 with Seattle.Jones was an All-Star annually from 2012-15 and hit .265 with 29 homers and 83 RBIs in 2016. He batted .285 the following year but slipped to 26 homers and 73 RBIs, then dropped to .281 with 15 homers and 63 RBIs last year for an Orioles team that shed most veterans went a big league-worst 47-115. His streak of seven straight years of 20 or more homers ended last year.He used his contractual right to block a proposed trade to Philadelphia at the July 31 trade deadline Brett Gardner Jersey , saying he did not want to be a corner outfielder for the Phillies.“It wasn’t the best move for Adam going into free agency, to platoon in a position I was not playing,” he said in September.Arizona’s offseason additions include reliever Greg Holland and infielder Wilmer Flores, while the Diamondbacks traded first baseman Paul Goldschmidt and saw center fielder A.J. Pollock and left-hander Patrick Corbin leave as free agents.