Premier12 alum Yoshi Tsutsugo to fund new youth baseball facility in his home town

Premier12 alum Yoshi Tsutsugo to fund new youth baseball facility in his home town
19/01/2022
"I felt the need for an environment where children could really enjoy and grow up," Yahoo News quoted Tsutsugo.

WBSC Premier12 alumnus Yoshitomo Tsutsugo will invest 200 million Japanese yen (US$ 1.75 million) to build a new youth baseball facility in his home town of Hashimoto, Wakayama Prefecture.

The venue will go under the name Tsutsugo Sports Academy and include a natural grass main stadium and a half field for training. The plan is to add an indoor training facility soon. Tsutsugo also intends to establish a youth baseball team based in Hashimoto.

"I felt the need for an environment where children could really enjoy and grow up," Yahoo News quoted Tsutsugo. "This is why I decided to build a sports academy in my hometown."

Born in 1991, the left-handed slugging outfielder is currently under contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates, his third Major League Baseball (MLB) club after stints with the Tampa Bay Rays and the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Tsutsugo enjoyed a stellar Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) career (2019-2019) with the Yokohama Bay Stars.

He started five games in left field and three as the designated hitter (DH) for Samurai Japan National Team at the WBSC Premier12 2015. He went 10-for-26 .385 batting average.

He also represented Japan at the World Baseball Classic 2017, earning pool B MVP honours.