A few hours after the United States national baseball team qualified for the Tokyo Olympics, two players expected to be key members of Samurai Japan¡¯s Olympic effort returned to the field in NPB.

Yomiuri Giants ace Tomoyuki Sugano and Hiroshima Carp outfielder Seiya Suzuki might have been a little rusty on Sunday, but there¡¯s time for both to round back into top form for both the pennant race and the Tokyo Games.

Sugano is one of the top hurlers in Japan but hasn¡¯t pitched on the top team since being taken off the roster on May 8 because of elbow discomfort.