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Kuroda overjoyed by fans' reaction

Hiroki Kuroda, who will play for Japanese Central League baseball club Hiroshima Carp this season after seven seasons in the majors, speaks during a press conference on Feb. 16, 2015, in the western Japan city of Hiroshima. As 100 fans welcomed him at Hiroshima Airport the previous day, Kuroda said that the fans were one reason he desired to come back to Japan.

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Kuroda to join Hiroshima Carp in mid-Feb.

LOS ANGELES, United States - Hiroki Kuroda, who will play for Japanese Central League baseball club Hiroshima Carp this season after seven seasons in the majors, speaks to reporters during voluntary training in Carson, California, on Jan. 15, 2014. Kuroda, who had been the most reliable member of the New York Yankees' rotation, will join Hiroshima's training camp in mid-February.

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Kuroda to join Hiroshima Carp in mid-Feb.

LOS ANGELES, United States - Hiroki Kuroda, who will play for Japanese Central League baseball club Hiroshima Carp this season after seven seasons in the majors, is seen during voluntary training in Carson, California, on Jan. 15, 2014. Kuroda, who had been the most reliable member of the New York Yankees' rotation, will join Hiroshima's training camp in mid-February.

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Kuroda to join Hiroshima Carp in mid-Feb.

LOS ANGELES, United States - Hiroki Kuroda, who will play for Japanese Central League baseball club Hiroshima Carp this season after seven seasons in the majors, speaks to reporters during voluntary training in Carson, California, on Jan. 15, 2014. Kuroda, who had been the most reliable member of the New York Yankees' rotation, will join Hiroshima's training camp in mid-February.

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Kuroda to rejoin Hiroshima

TOKYO, Japan - File photo shows free agent pitcher Hiroki Kuroda, who will rejoin the Hiroshima Carp of Japan's Central League in 2015 after seven seasons in the majors. Kuroda was a reliable piece in the New York Yankees' rotation, finishing the 2014 campaign with an 11-9 record and 3.71 ERA over 32 starts.

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Fighters' Tanaka going overseas

SAPPORO, Japan - Nippon Ham Fighters infielder Kensuke Tanaka speaks during a press conference in Sapporo on Nov. 6, 2012. The offensive and defensive spark plug for the Fighters for the past seven seasons announced he would file for free agency and pursue a career in the major leagues.

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Ichiro practices batting during spring training

PEORIA, United States - Ichiro Suzuki practices batting during spring training in Peoria, Arizona, on March 13. Suzuki, better known by his first name Japanese fans, has signed a $21 million contract with the Seattle Mariners in the Major League after nine professional seasons in Japan, where he won seven straight batting championships.

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Returned Hiroshima hurler Kuroda plays catch in Okinawa

Hurler Hiroki Kuroda of the Hiroshima Carp plays catch at Koza Shinkin Stadium in Okinawa, Japan, on Feb. 17, 2015. Kuroda returned to the Central League club after playing seven big league seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Yankees. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Ex-Yankees hurler Kuroda greets Hiroshima manager in Okinawa

Former New York Yankees pitcher Hiroki Kuroda (L) shakes hands with Hiroshima Carp manager Koichi Ogata in Okinawa, Japan, on Feb. 17, 2015, a day before the start of the Carp's training camp. After playing seven big league seasons, Kuroda returned to the Central League club. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Ex-major leaguer Kuroda joins Hiroshima training camp

Former major leaguer Hiroki Kuroda warms up in the bullpen during the Hiroshima Carp training camp in the southern city of Okinawa on Feb. 18, 2015. After playing seven big league seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees, Kuroda decided to return to the Central League club. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Ex-major leaguer Kuroda joins Hiroshima training camp

Former major leaguer Hiroki Kuroda warms up in the bullpen during the Hiroshima Carp training camp in the southern city of Okinawa on Feb. 18, 2015. After playing seven big league seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees, Kuroda decided to return to the Central League club. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Baseball opening in Japan

Baseball fans line up on March 26, 2021, at the Rakuten Eagles' home stadium Rakuten Seimei Park in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, ahead of the season-opening game later in the day against the Nippon Ham Fighters. Set up beside the line is a board showing a picture of pitcher Masahiro Tanaka, who returned to the northeastern Japan city-based baseball club after spending seven seasons at the New York Yankees.

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Kuroda to join Hiroshima Carp in mid-Feb.

LOS ANGELES, United States - Hiroki Kuroda, who will play for Japanese Central League baseball club Hiroshima Carp this season after seven seasons in the majors, speaks to reporters during voluntary training in Carson, California, on Jan. 15, 2014. Kuroda, who had been the most reliable member of the New York Yankees' rotation, will join Hiroshima's training camp in mid-February. (Kyodo)

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Kuroda to join Hiroshima Carp in mid-Feb.

LOS ANGELES, United States - Hiroki Kuroda, who will play for Japanese Central League baseball club Hiroshima Carp this season after seven seasons in the majors, speaks to reporters during voluntary training in Carson, California, on Jan. 15, 2014. Kuroda, who had been the most reliable member of the New York Yankees' rotation, will join Hiroshima's training camp in mid-February. (Kyodo)

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Kuroda to join Hiroshima Carp in mid-Feb.

LOS ANGELES, United States - Hiroki Kuroda, who will play for Japanese Central League baseball club Hiroshima Carp this season after seven seasons in the majors, is seen during voluntary training in Carson, California, on Jan. 15, 2014. Kuroda, who had been the most reliable member of the New York Yankees' rotation, will join Hiroshima's training camp in mid-February. (Kyodo)

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Kuroda to rejoin Hiroshima

TOKYO, Japan - File photo shows free agent pitcher Hiroki Kuroda, who will rejoin the Hiroshima Carp of Japan's Central League in 2015 after seven seasons in the majors. Kuroda was a reliable piece in the New York Yankees' rotation, finishing the 2014 campaign with an 11-9 record and 3.71 ERA over 32 starts. (Kyodo)

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Retirement ceremony of Hiroshima Carp Kuroda

Retiring Hiroshima Carp right-hander Hiroki Kuroda sinks to his knee on the field at Mazda Stadium during his retirement ceremony in the western Japan city of Hiroshima on Nov. 5, 2016. Kuroda also spent seven seasons in the major leagues. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Retirement ceremony of Hiroshima Carp Kuroda

Retiring Hiroshima Carp right-hander Hiroki Kuroda sinks to his knee on the mound at Mazda Stadium during his retirement ceremony in the western Japan city of Hiroshima on Nov. 5, 2016. Kuroda also spent seven seasons in the major leagues. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Retirement ceremony of Hiroshima Carp Kuroda

Retiring Hiroshima Carp right-hander Hiroki Kuroda sinks to his knee on the mound at Mazda Stadium during his retirement ceremony in the western Japan city of Hiroshima on Nov. 5, 2016. Kuroda also spent seven seasons in the major leagues. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Retirement ceremony of Hiroshima Carp Kuroda

Retiring Hiroshima Carp right-hander Hiroki Kuroda sinks to his knee on the mound at Mazda Stadium during his retirement ceremony in the western Japan city of Hiroshima on Nov. 5, 2016. Kuroda also spent seven seasons in the major leagues. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Retirement ceremony of Hiroshima Carp Kuroda

Retiring Hiroshima Carp right-hander Hiroki Kuroda sinks to his knee on the mound at Mazda Stadium during his retirement ceremony in the western Japan city of Hiroshima on Nov. 5, 2016. Kuroda also spent seven seasons in the major leagues. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Retired Kuroda joins parade to celebrate CL championship

Retired Hiroshima Carp right-hander Hiroki Kuroda joins a parade on Nov. 5, 2016, in the western Japan city of Hiroshima to celebrate the team's first Central League championship in 25 years. The parade drew around 313,000 people. Kuroda spent seven seasons in the major leagues. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Retired Kuroda joins parade to celebrate CL championship

Retired Hiroshima Carp right-hander Hiroki Kuroda joins a parade on Nov. 5, 2016, in the western Japan city of Hiroshima to celebrate the team's first Central League championship in 25 years. The parade drew around 313,000 people. Kuroda spent seven seasons in the major leagues. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Retired right-hander Kuroda at press conference

Retired Hiroshima Carp right-hander Hiroki Kuroda waves to his fans after a press conference in the western Japan city of Hiroshima on Nov. 4, 2016. Kuroda, who spent seven seasons in the major leagues, showed satisfaction with his career. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Retired right-hander Kuroda at press conference

Retired Hiroshima Carp right-hander Hiroki Kuroda attends a press conference in the western Japan city of Hiroshima on Nov. 4, 2016. Kuroda, who spent seven seasons in the major leagues, showed satisfaction with his career. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Retired right-hander Kuroda at press conference

Retired Hiroshima Carp right-hander Hiroki Kuroda attends a press conference in the western Japan city of Hiroshima on Nov. 4, 2016. Kuroda, who spent seven seasons in the major leagues, showed satisfaction with his career. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Retired right-hander Kuroda at press conference

Retired Hiroshima Carp right-hander Hiroki Kuroda attends a press conference in the western Japan city of Hiroshima on Nov. 4, 2016. Kuroda, who spent seven seasons in the major leagues, showed satisfaction with his career. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Retired right-hander Kuroda at press conference

Retired Hiroshima Carp right-hander Hiroki Kuroda attends a press conference in the western Japan city of Hiroshima on Nov. 4, 2016. Kuroda, who spent seven seasons in the major leagues, showed satisfaction with his career. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Ichiro practices batting during spring training

PEORIA, United States - Ichiro Suzuki practices batting during spring training in Peoria, Arizona, on March 13. Suzuki, better known by his first name Japanese fans, has signed a $21 million contract with the Seattle Mariners in the Major League after nine professional seasons in Japan, where he won seven straight batting championships.