The Cleveland Indians think that next spring one of the players in their dugout will be Kazuhito Tadano – a ace right hand pitcher who was banned from playing ball in Japanese for appearing in a gay porn while in college
Tadano was considered one of the top college pitchers of his generation in his native homeland, with a 92mph fastball and a wicked slider. He was expected to be a high first round draft pick in the 2002 draft for the Japanese major leagues. Then it was revealed that he had participated in a gay porn video.
The Yokohama Bay Stars, who had talked about making Tadano their first selection, changed their mind, citing a shoulder injury Tadano had suffered as the reason.
Alan Nero, Tadano’s agent, told the AP that the Japanese baseball commissioner suggested that Tadano should not be drafted at all.
According to the Daily Yomiuri , a Japanese newspaper that is also published in Englis, Hideki Ikeda, an official with the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters, says no such order went out.
"The teams just decided not to draft him by themselves," said Ikeda.
The Yomiuri claims sources within the Mets claim that Met’s owner Fred Wilpon refused to sign him because he was worried about the trouble it might cause.
In 2002, future Hall of Fame catcher Mike Piazza held a press conference to profess his heterosexuality after a gossip columnist suggested one of the Mets was gay.
No matter what the final outcome is of the who-is-the-bigger-homophobe game, Tadano did end up in the United States, where he landed a spot with the Cleveland Indians organization.He started with the minor leagues and is working his way up.
The Indians plan on inviting to spring training this year. If he does well, he’ll be the first player in the major leagues to have appeared in a porn gay or straight.
Or at least, the first known player in the major leagues to have appeared in a porn of either the gay or straight variety. Who knows if any of the Dodgers had an appearance or two as a stunt cock in the Valley?
Earlier this week, the Cleveland Indians held a press conference for Tadano.
"All of us have made mistakes in our lives," Tadano said, reading a statement in English. "Hopefully, you learn from them and move on."
"I did participate in a video and I regret it very much," he said. "It was a one-time incident that showed bad judgment and will never be repeated. I was young, playing baseball, and going to college and my teammates and I needed money.
Tadano added: "I'm not gay. I'd like to clear that fact up right now."
As the Associated Press notes, Tadano's admission will certainly draw attention to homosexuality in baseball.
There are no openly gay players in the big leagues today. The same is true in the NFL, NHL and NBA.
Billy Bean,who played for the Tigers, Dodgers and Padres came out of the closet after his retirement. Glenn Burke, who played with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Oakland Athletics has also come out of the closet
Hall of Fame pitcher Sandy Koufax is rumored to be gay, though he fiercely denied it.
In 2002, future Hall of Fame catcher Mike Piazza held a press conference to profess his heterosexuality after a gossip columnist suggested one of the Mets was gay.
To ensure there would be no problems at each of his clubs, Tadano told his teammates when he joined the A league team Kinston Indians, and again when he joined the AA league team the Akron Aeros.
"You could tell he was nervous," said Grady Sizemore, Tadano’s roommate and teammate at Akron. "But I don't think it changed anybody's opinion of him. After it was said and done, nobody thought anything more of it. He's a great guy and a great pitcher."
Tadano is expected to start the season playing AAA-ball, the move up to the major this summer.
In other words it hasn’t been a problem. No doubt any concerns were quelled by his stats.
A former starter, he pitched in all three levels of the minors last season, going 6-2 with a 1.55 ERA and three saves. At Akron, he didn't allow a run in his first 28 innings and struck out 78 in 72 2/3 innings and had the lowest ERA on his team – a 1.24.Kinston, N.C., where he started the season, and later at Akron, the Indians' Double-A affiliate
Tadano tried out for several major league teams last spring including the Mets, Padres, Braves, and Twins. The “scandal” is rumored to have been why, though Tadano was coming off an elbow injury at the time.
Tadano expects he’ll be heckled quite a bit during his career. "I don't understand English, so it doesn't really matter," he said.
