The Tokyo Yakult Swallows have acquired right-hander Preston Guilmet on a one-year contract worth $600,000, the Central League club announced Monday.
Guilmet, 29, who has pitched in 19 major league games with a 0-1 record and an 8.22 ERA, struck out 82 in 68⅓ innings for Detroit Tigers Triple-A affiliate Toledo this year and is in line to fight for a closer role at Yakult.
"He throws vertical overhand and it's hard to recognize when he's pitching a forkball," said Masayuki Okumura, the Swallows' international director. "He's a bit like (the SoftBank Hawks' Ryota) Igarashi."