[Official] Lotte makes decisive move to replace Kyoyama, signs 'Taiwan Industrial League ERA leader' Iimura Shota, who throws up to 153 km/h

*This content was translated by AI.

Lotte Giants has unexpectedly signed new Asian quota pitcher Iimura Shota (26) to strengthen its pitching staff.

On the 18th, Lotte officially announced, "To strengthen our pitching staff, we have signed Japanese right-handed pitcher Iimura Shota (26) as an Asian quota player. The total contract value is $70,000."

According to the club, Iimura Shota is a right-handed traditional pitcher with a solid build of 184 cm and 86 kg. He boasts a powerful fastball averaging 147 km/h and reaching up to 153 km/h. He is also praised for his precise control, capable of effectively targeting low strikes in the strike zone.

His diverse repertoire of pitches stands out. He can freely deploy sharp breaking balls with lateral movement, including sliders, curves, and sinkers, as well as split-finger fastballs that drop vertically. He is regarded as having stable speed control and effective game management skills.

Iimura Shota has continued his career through Japan's KMG Holdings and Taiwan's Taiwan Life. Notably, during 29 innings pitched in this year's Taiwan Spring League, he posted an ERA of 0.93, ranking first in the league. By dominating the Taiwan stage, he has proven his reliability on the mound.

After finalizing the contract, Iimura Shota stated through the club, "Although the team is currently in a difficult situation, I am ready to dedicate myself to the team to help achieve a rebound in the second half." He added, "I will show winning games on the mound for the club and fans who gave me this opportunity."

Meanwhile, along with signing new face Iimura Shota, Lotte has begun restructuring. The club has requested a waiver filing from the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) for existing Asian quota pitcher Kyoyama Masaya. At the same time, Iimura Shota is expected to join the first-team roster immediately once necessary administrative procedures, such as visa issuance, are completed, adding strength to Lotte's pitching staff.

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.