SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) -Hideo Nomo last pitched in the major leagues in 2005. After elbow and shoulder surgery, he is looking to make a return.
The Kansas City Royals are willing to take a chance on the 39-year-old with two no-hitters on his resume. At worst, Nomo, still an icon in Japan, will help make prized reliever Yasuhiko Yabuta’s transition a little smoother.
“I feel like I can still pitch in the major leagues,” Nomo said through an interpreter Tuesday. “I did rehab for it. Pitching in the major leagues is my goal. I like baseball a lot. I like the major leagues.”
Nomo went 5-8 with a 7.24 ERA in 2005 for Tampa Bay and he struggled in Venezuelan winter ball last year with a 6.59 ERA in 13 2-3 innings.
“It feels better than two years ago,” Nomo said of his arm. “I didn’t have any pain in my shoulder and elbow when I threw in Venezuela. The pain didn’t go away for a long time (after the operations).”
5 National League Rookie of the Year, going 13-6 with a 2.54 ERA and a league-leading 236 strikeouts with the Dodgers. He has 123 career wins and struck out nearly 2,000 batters.
Royals rookie manager Trey Hillman, who spent the previous five seasons managing in Japan, remembered Nomo’s devastating split-finger fastball.
“Arguably it was one of the best or the best split in the United States,” Hillman said. “Depending on how the arms works, on how the arm feels, how the body is reacting, we’ll see how that pitch is. … If after the arm trouble that he’s had, if he’s anywhere close to what he used to be, especially with the split finger as an out pitch, we might have something.”
The Royals invested $6 million over two years in the 34-year-old right-handed Yabuta, who is expected to compete for a spot as the Royals’ primary setup man, and they see Nomo as a good mentor.
“Anybody who has had as much success as Nomo has had in his career and his desire to pitch in the major leagues and with his competitiveness, you’ve really got to listen,” Royals general manager Dayton Moore said. “Secondly, his influence on Yabuta in transition. It just makes sense for him to be here.
“We all recognize how much success he’s had. He still feels like he can pitch in the majors. He’s a great competitor. And he can help transition Yabuta,” he added. “Somebody is going to give Nomo the opportunity to come to a Major League camp, so why not us?”
Notes: Left-hander Neal Musser was held out of activities because of back spasms. Hillman listed him as day to day. … Thursday was the first Royals official workout with all 31 pitchers and seven catchers reporting. It was also the first workout under Hillman’s as a big league manager. … The first full squad workout will be Tuesday.
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