Italian right-handed pitcher Alessandro Maestri has a chance to stay in Nippon Professional Baseball. The contract of the former Chicago Cubs minor leaguer with the Orix Buffaloes will be renewed this week according to a report by Baseball.it. The general manager of the pro baseball club is currently traveling around the world to sign his players and is expected to arrive in Italy on Thursday.
Last winter Maestri impressed Japanese scouts during his stint in the Australian Baseball League. He ended up in an independent league in Japan for the 2012 season. He continued to pitch on a high level and eventually was signed by the Buffaloes. In eight games he went 4-3 with an ERA of 2.17, striking out 40 in 49 2/3 innings. In the fall the club send him additionally in to a development league, trying to give him even more seasoning.