Sugimoto commits to Yavapai

The Ontario Blue Jays are excited to announce that RHP Kansai Sugimoto (Kyoto, JPN) has committed to further his academic and baseball career at Yavapai College (NJCAA DI - Prescott, AZ). Kansai joined OBJ 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 past Fall and he features plus off-speed pitches as well. Kansai will look to hop right into the rotation beginning this Fall.

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