Japanese High School Pitching Star Shoki Oda Skips NPB to Pursue Career in the U.S.

TOKYO — Shoki Oda, a standout young pitcher in Japanese high school baseball, announced Thursday that he will skip the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) league to begin pursuing a career in the United States.

The decision marks a turning point in the career of Oda, who is regarded as one of the most promising pitching talents in Japanese school baseball.

Rather than enter the NPB player draft — Japan's top professional league — Oda will set his sights on developing his career in the U.S.