Cardinals sign Import Shortstop Katsuya Arai

The Hamilton Cardinals are excited to announce the signing of import shortstop Katsuya Arai.

Arai, a dynamic player hailing from Chiba, Funabashi City, Japan. The 30-year-old shortstop, joins the Cardinals with an impressive track record, most recently showcasing his talents in the Frontier League with the Empire State Greys during the 2023 season.

Before his stint with the Greys, Arai demonstrated his exceptional skills in 2022 with their minor league affiliate, the Japan Islanders, where he left a significant mark. Over 36 games, he achieved a .363 batting average, secured 45 hits, stole 31 bases, and drove in 23 runs, highlighting his speed, agility, and offensive capabilities. 

The Cardinals are confident that Arai will bring much-needed stability to the shortstop position, enhancing the team's defensive and offensive strategies. His proven track record and experience in international play are expected to be invaluable assets to the Cardinals.

“We shuffled through different options at shortstop last year, so having Kat gives us confidence and consistency at one of the premium positions on the diamond,” said George Halim, Hamilton Cardinals General Manager. “It’s one less thing to think about knowing we have an everyday shortstop.”

The Cardinals first home game is on Friday May 17th at 7:30pm against the Guelph Royals. Tickets are now available at CardinalsTickets.ca and the game will be available live on Cable 14.

About the Hamilton Cardinals

The Hamilton Cardinals Baseball Club are a member of Canada’s best league, the Intercounty Baseball League. The over 100-year old summer league is one of the oldest baseball leagues in the world, established in 1919. For more information visit: https://www.theibl.ca & https://www.iblcardinals.ca