Second foreigner to win Japan's Sawamura Award

American Kris Johnson of the Hiroshima Carp has become only the second non-Japanese to win the nation's annual award for the year's best starting pitcher.  The only other foreigner to be presented the Sawamura Award was American Gene Bacque in 1964.  Last year's winner, Kenta Maeda, pitched for the LA Dodgers in the 2016 season.  The Texas Rangers' Yu Darvish took the award in 2007.

Apparently the award committee was not unanimous in its decision, a result perhaps of standards that are now past their prime.  See the Kyodo news report here for more.

Photo (Kyodo News):  Kris Johnson with baseballs spelling out Sawamura.

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