Marc Kroon Signs With Giants After High-Octane Closing Stint in Japan

Filed under: Angels, Dodgers, Giants, Mariners, Mets, Padres, Pirates, Reds, Rockies, International Baseball

The San Francisco Giants have invited to spring training a record-holder for the fastest pitch in Japanese baseball.

Marc Kroon, who was clocked at 101 miles per hour three years ago, will vie for a relief job with the World Series champions after compiling 177 saves and a 2.68 ERA in Japan the last six years, FanHouse has learned.

Kroon, who turns 38 in April, expects that his improved accuracy will return with him to the United States.

Wildness plagued the Bronx native throughout a nomadic career here, leading to his departure from the Mets, who had drafted him in 1991, followed by unceremonious exits from the Padres, Reds, Mariners, Dodgers, Angels and finally the Rockies, who sold him to Yokohama in 2004.

But in Japan, Kroon flourished. He earned $13 million there as a star closer who averaged a gaudy 12.3 strikeouts per nine innings.

"We call him 'The Phoenix' because he rose from the ashes," said Kroon's agent, John Boggs.

 

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Source: http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2011/01/24/marc-kroon-signs-with-giants-after-high-octane-closing-stint-in/

Kazuyuki Fujita Masakatsu Funaki Zelg Benkei Galesić Mauro Galvao Arman Gambaryan