Alessandro Maestri re-signs with ORIX Buffaloes

Alessandro Maestri is staying in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). The Italian right-hander, who also played in the Minor Leagues for the Chicago Cubs and in the Australian Baseball League, resigned with the ORIX Buffaloes. He went 3-1 with an ERA of 1.97 in 36 games for the Buffaloes in 2014. He struck out 48 and walked 30 in 50 1/3 innings. He issued just 31 hits this year. With Maestri and Rick van den Hurk two European pitchers will play in NPB next year.