The Hiroshima Carp are developing a pitching academy in the Chinese province of Guangdong in cooperation with a local team, the first such attempt by a Japanese professional baseball team.
Two officials from the Central League team went to Guangdong in September to inspect China's baseball abilities and facilities, and the next month signed a friendship agreement with the Chinese team in the provincial capital of Guangzhou.
"The (Chinese) levels are those of Japanese high school baseball teams, but Chinese players are speedy and have strong arms," said Yoshihisa Shiratake, a scout for Hiroshima who has spent time in Guangdong. "They will become strong if they trained for the Beijing Olympic Games."