A second Italian pitcher is going to Japan. After Alessandro Maestri’s success story who has ended up with the Orix Buffaloes in Nippon Professional Baseball, Luca Panerati is now trying his luck according to GrandeSlam.net. The former Minor Leaguer with the Cincinnati Reds has signed with the independent league club Thunderbirds Toyama. He is coming from Fortitudo Bologna. The left-hander apparently has received some attention from Japanese scouts during the most recent World Baseball Classic.