Yomiuri Mystery Tryout

» 27 August 2010 » In npb »

Update, August 29: When reporters asked the mystery man what his name was, he answered with “Carovel” (カロベル). It looks like he was discovered on a random field in the Dominican. Hat tip to eagled-eyed reader passerby for his detective work.The Giants will make a decision on Carovel on the 31st.

Can you identify this man?

Nikkan Sports and Sponichi couldn’t.

The Giants are apparently working out the mystery man at their ni-gun facility. The reports don’t give his name, but there are a few hints: Sponichi and Nikkan Sports both say that he’s a switch-hitting catcher, Sponichi says his Dominican, while Nikkan suggests he could be from another Latin American country, and adds that he’s 20-15 years old, not currently with any team, and that the name “Noel” was written on the batting practice list. A quick search for :Noel” at baseballreference.com doesn’t return any likely matches.

The tryout runs through the 28th, so we’ll have to wait until tomorrow to find out the mystery player’s identity.

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  1. Patrick
    passerby
    28/08/2010 at 4:24 am Permalink

    Kiyotake is considering ikusei.
    http://sportsnavi.yahoo.co.jp/baseball/headlines/20100828-00000024-kyodo_sp-spo.html

    Yeah, it seems to be the case that he’s never really played any pro ball. Obispo’s acquaintance or something?

  2. Patrick
    Patrick
    28/08/2010 at 3:14 pm Permalink

    Looks like you’re right: http://www.sanspo.com/baseball/news/100829/bsa1008290505002-n1.htm

    Sanspo says the Yankees shirt has nothing to do with his background and that he has no pro experience. He might be an academy kid from somewhere. The Giants have gotten excellent production out of ikusei players so if they sign him I’m sure he’ll have a shot.

  3. Patrick
    passerby
    28/08/2010 at 3:28 pm Permalink

    http://www.sponichi.co.jp/baseball/news/2010/08/29/07.html
    >玉木君（２軍育成コーチ）が某所の野っぱらで見つけて
    That’s new. Way outside the box. Go for it.

    http://www.stooorage.com/show/530/1036510_092690.jpg
    カロベル, it is.

  4. Patrick
    Patrick
    28/08/2010 at 4:27 pm Permalink

    カロベル = Carovel, maybe?

    And yeah, totally agree. I’d love to see NPB teams recruit & train more talent out of Latin America.

  5. Patrick
    passerby
    31/08/2010 at 3:53 am Permalink

    http://www.sponichi.co.jp/baseball/flash/KFullFlash20100831082.html
    So, he’s 21 years old. Probably never got out of an MLB academy to go play rookie ball in the US.