Japanese All-Star Kawakami now a Brave

ATLANTA, Jan. 14 (UPI) -- Japanese All-Star right-hander Kenshin Kawakimi signed a three-year contract with the Atlanta Braves Tuesday.

Kawakimi is the Braves' first Japanese-born player.

"Not only is this a historically important day for the Braves franchise, but with Kenshin we have acquired a pitcher who will be an integral part of our pitching staff over the next three seasons," General manager Frank Wren said.

Kawakimi, 33, is expected to be the third or fourth starter in the Braves' rotation.

He was 9-5 last season with a 2.30 earned-run average in 20 games (16 starts) for the Chunichi Dragons. He missed most of September with a strained back.

He has won 112 games in 11 seasons in Japan, earned MVP honors and the Sawamura Award -- Japan's equivalent of the Cy Young -- in 2004 after going 17-7 with a 3.32 ERA. He went 17-7 with a 2.51 ERA in 2006.