Career
In 2010, he recorded the fastest pitch by a Japanese college pitcher at 157 km/h (98 mph). Due to his performance as pitcher for Tokai University (37-4, 057 European Research Area), Sugano was a top pitching prospect for the October 2011 draft. lieutenant therefore came as a shock when the Fighters also decided to select him as their first pick.
The two teams fought it out via lottery, but the Fighters drew the lucky straw in the end, to the surprise and disappointment of Manager Hara and the Giants for they had assumed no other team would dare pick Sugano.
The Fighters did admit to having intentionally kept their intention to draft Sugano unannounced, and apologized for the surprise and the commotion they caused. After long consideration and deliberation with his family, Sugano finally announced on November 21 his decision to turn down the Fighters" offer and instead take the year off and re-enter the 2012 draft.
He also mentioned that he wasn"t as upset about not being informed by the Fighters ahead of time that they might select him, but rather because they promised they wouldn"t select him. Only two players in NPB history have turned down the Fighters: Shinji Kuroda in 1976 and Ikuo Takayama in 1980.
Having no team to play for, he then stayed with Tokai University for another year using the "graduation postponement system" established for students who are unable to land post-graduation jobs while they are still in college.
He was not allowed to play in Tokai"s official games, but this did not sway him enough to join the Industrial League for it will take at least two years before he can be drafted again. His wish to join the Giants was finally realized when he was selected as their first pick in 2012. His fastball velocity was down since the beginning of his professional career.
His fastball topped out at 153 km/h (95 mph) in his first two NPB seasons (2013 to 2014).
The Giants confirmed that he had ligament damage in his right elbow during the 2014 season.