SAN DIEGO - The San Diego Padres have signed right-handed pitcher Kazuhisa Makita to a two-year contract, Executive Vice President & General Manager A.J. Preller announced today.
 
Over the last two seasons, Makita has pitched exclusively in relief for the Seibu Lions in the Pacific League of Nippon Professional Baseball, posting a 10-4 record with a 1.91 ERA (30 ER, 141.1 IP) and 78 strikeouts against 21 walks in 108 appearances. He pitched in 168 games (110 starts) for Seibu from 2011-15, going 43-45 with a 3.00 ERA (260 ER, 780.0 IP) and 436 strikeouts against 185 walks.
 
Makita, 33, was originally drafted out of the Nippon Express Industrial League as a second round selection in 2010 after playing for Japan's collegiate national team. He made his NPB debut in 2011 at the age of 26 and won the Pacific League Rookie of the Year award that season, converting 22 saves while also making 10 starts and posting a 2.61 ERA (37 ER, 127.2 IP). Makita went on to earn four NPB All-Star selections (2011, 2013, 2016-17).
 
The submarine-throwing right-hander served as the closer for bronze medal-winning Japan in the World Baseball Classic in both 2013 and 2017, going a combined 2-0 with three saves, a 2.00 ERA (2 ER, 9 IP) and 11 strikeouts against three walks in eight relief appearances. He pitched for the national team, Samurai Japan, in the 2014 MLB Japan All-Star Series and contributed to a combined no-hit shutout of the MLB All-Stars in Game 3 of Samurai Japan's eventual 3-2 series win. He also made two scoreless relief appearances for Japan in the 2015 World Baseball Softball Confederation Premier12 when they captured the bronze medal.