Ontario Blue Jays' Sugimoto commits to Yavapai

Ontario Blue Jays RHP Kansai Sugimoto (Kyoto, Japan) has committed to further his academic and baseball career at Yavapai College. Photo: Twitter

November 22, 2021

Official Ontario Blue Jays News Release

The Ontario Blue Jays’ RHP Kansai Sugimoto (Kyoto, Japan) has committed to further his academic and career at Yavapai College (NJCAA DI - Prescott, AZ).

He joined the Ontario Blue Jays when Corey Eckstein made the move from the West Coast. Sugimoto, a transfer student from Japan, played for the Fraser Valley Cardinals, before moving with Eckstein to Ontario.

Sugimoto will follow former Cardinals pitcher and friend, Taisei Yahiro to Yavapai where he will join a strong Roughriders team that always finds itself in contention for a National Championship.

Sugimoto's fastball has been in the mid-90's this fall and he features plus off-speed pitches as well. He will look to hop right into the rotation beginning this fall.

Sugimoto will be the second Ontario Blue Jays player to attend Yavapai College.