Kikuchi to stay in Japan.

According to Kyodo News, Japanese high school lefthander Yusei Kikuchi announced within the last hour that he will play in Japan next year rather than sign with a major league organization. The Rangers, who scouted Kikuchi since the spring and sent a contingent including A.J. Preller, Jim Colborn, and Derek Holland to Japan for a recruiting interview this week, were reported to have significant interest in the 18-year-old.

Should the Kikuchi sign with a Japanese club following Thursday's draft, he won't be eligible for free agency for nine years, unless his club decides to post his negotiating rights beforehand.