4:55 p.m.: To take our mind off the snowy forecast, let's talk some baseball — specifically about Omaha native and former Bellevue East pitcher Buddy Carlyle.

The 31-year-old right-hander has signed a new deal for 53 million.

OK, slow down a minute. That's 53 million yen ($594,000 American) to pitch for the Nippon Ham Fighters of the Japanese League.

Carlyle pitched the past three seasons with the Atlanta Braves, making $425,000. He already has reported to the Fighters, owned by Nippon Ham, one of Japan's largest food producers.

This is Carlyle's second stint in Japan. He pitched for the Hanshin Tigers in 2001 and 2002.

I'm going to step out of the press box for a moment and cheer for Carlyle's success. Besides being a good friend, he's a former neighbor of mine. He and his wife and two kids are wonderful people. Buddy was diagnosed with Type I diabetes last summer with the Braves and has worked hard to manage that. He was granted free agency in October after being taken off the Braves' 40-man major-league roster.

Buddy likely will return to a starting spot in Japan. A Japanese baseball service reported that he threw a 40-pitch bullpen session Thursday.

We'll keep an eye out from long distance for one of Omaha's really good guys in sports.

« Blog - Lee Barfknecht

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