High school pitcher Kikuchi will remain in Japan

Japanese high school pitcher Yusei Kikuchi announced at a press conference on Sunday in Japan that he will choose his country's pro leagues for now. He is expected to be the No. 1 pick in Japan's Oct. 29 amateur draft. "I don't think I have what it takes to compete at the world level yet." Said Kikuchi.

If a player joins a Japanese team, he must play nine seasons before becoming a free agent. Some players, such as Red Sox right-hander Daisuke Matsuzaka (in red sox jersey) , can leave earlier through a posting system that allows Major League Baseball teams to bid for negotiating rights.