Kenshi Sugiya to return to professional baseball with Savannah Bananas

Former Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters player Kenshi Sugiya has announced his return to professional baseball after a four-year retirement. Sugiya, 35, was selected in the draft by the Savannah Bananas, an entertainment-focused baseball team based in Georgia, USA.

The Savannah Bananas compete in Banana Ball, a unique version of the sport featuring specialized rules designed for high entertainment, such as two-hour game limits and specific fan interaction rules. Sugiya, known for his versatility as a utility player during his 14-year career in Japan, will join the team for the 2027 season.

Sugiya stated that he intends to continue his current media and business activities in Japan while playing in the United States, noting that he will effectively be working twice as much. He expressed a desire to eventually bring this form of entertainment to fans in Japan.