Female knuckleballer Eri Yoshida hopes to receive an offer from a U.S. independent league club for the second year in a row by pitching well in the Arizona Winter League in February.
"I'm a little bit worried, but I'm looking forward to playing over there," Yoshida said Monday at Narita airport before leaving for the United States.
"I want to produce results once I've decided to play."
The 2011 Arizona Winter League opens Friday and runs through Feb. 27.
The 19-year-old Yoshida is expected to start for the Yuma Scorpions on Saturday night against the Saskatchewan Silver Sox.
"I want to pitch to as many hitters as possible to gain game experience," Yoshida said.