Former Major Leaguer Hideki Irabu joins the Armada for 2009.  The hardest throwing pitcher in the history of Japanses professional baseball came to the U.S. in 1998 to play for the New York Yankees.  In 10 seasons in the Japanese NPB, he pitched in 243 games and compiled a 59-59 record from 1988-97.  Irabu won two World Series rings with the Yankees, in 1998 and 1999, going 13-9 with 173 innings pitched in ’98 and 11-7 with 169.1 innings pitched in ’99.  He also spent time with the Montreal Expos and Texas Rangers.  Hideki is attempting a comeback to professional baseball after a five-year hiatus.