PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Pirates today signed right-handed pitcher Ryota Igarashi and first baseman Jeff Clement to minor league contracts. Both deals include invitations to spring training as non-roster players.
Igarashi, 32, made 45 appearances with the New York Mets during the 2011 season. He went 4-1 with a 4.66 ERA, with 42 strikeouts over 38.2 innings of relief. Igarashi also posted a 0.87 ERA (31.0 innings), with five saves and 34 strikeouts in 21 games with Triple-A Buffalo.
Prior to joining the Mets organization two seasons ago, Igarashi pitched 10 seasons with the Yakult Swallows in the Japanese Central League. A five-time All-Star while pitching exclusively in relief in Japan, Igarashi recorded 630 strikeouts in 570.0 career innings in the Central League. He also led the league with 37 saves in 2004.
Clement, 28, spent most of the 2011 season rehabbing from left knee surgery, which he underwent on September 22, 2010. Clement hit .257 with seven RBI in nine games with the GCL Pirates before finishing the season with Triple-A Indianapolis, where he batted .271 with five doubles, a homer and five RBI in 22 games. Clement was acquired by the Seattle Mariners (along with shortstop Ronny Cedeno and pitching prospects Aaron Pribanic, Brett Lorin and Nathan Adcock) for shortstop Jack Wilson and pitcher Ian Snell.
Clement, who was a former first-round pick by the Mariners, last appeared in the Majors for Pittsburgh in 2010 where he batted .201 with 11 runs, three doubles, seven home runs and 12 RBI over 54 games.
Photo credit: Post-Gazette
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