Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles pitcher Masahiro Tanaka did anything but impress in his return to Japanese baseball on Saturday. The former New York Yankees right-hander allowed four hits and three runs, including a two-run blast in the first inning, in a 4-1 loss to the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters, according to the Associated Press (h/t ESPN).
Tanaka signed a two-year, $17.2 million deal with the Golden Eagles in January after finishing a seven-year, $155 million contract with the Yankees in 2020. A report last month stated that the 32-year-old and his family opted to return to Japan amid a rise in anti-Asian racism in the United States.
Tanaka began his professional baseball career with Tohoku Rakuten in 2007 before joining the Yankees. He led the Golden Eagles to a Japan Series title in 2013 and was named MVP of the championship round.
The Golden Eagles are currently tied for second in Nippon Professional Baseball's Pacific League with a 10-7 record.
Tanaka was a two-time All-Star with the Yankees and finished his career in Major League Baseball with a 3.74 ERA and 1.130 WHIP.
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