Former Rikkyo University pitcher Kazuhito Tadano has signed a minor league deal with the Cleveland Indians, officials of the club said Wednesday.
Indians media relations director Bart Swain said Tadano, a 22-year-old right-hander who reached 20 wins in the Tokyo Big Six League, decided to play abroad after injuring his right shoulder and elbow and skipping last year's Japanese draft. Swain said Tadano will officially sign with the American League club April 7.