Eight-Year Veteran Pitcher Signs In Japan


Heading overseas.

Eight-year veteran pitcher Keone Kela is signing with the Yakult Swallows of Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball.

Kela signed a minor-league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers in September after spending most of the season with the Arizona Diamondbacks organization, rehabbing from Tommy John surgery.

The twenty-nine-year-old holds a career ERA of 3.33, 1.13 WHIP, and 279 strikeouts over 227.1 innings pitched. He's spent time with the Texas Rangers, Pittsburgh Pirates, San Diego Padres, Diamondbacks and the Dodgers.

Kela has plenty of experience in high-leverage situations and will look to build up his stock overseas.

Photo Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports