GREEN BAY, Wis. (WBAY) – The Green Bay Rockers boasted the best record in the Great Lakes West division of the Northwoods League, clinching a spot in the postseason, thanks in part to contributions from pitcher Heitaro Hiyashi.
Hiyashi was born and raised in Tokyo, Japan, where he grew up idolizing Japanese-born MLB players like Shohei Ohtani and Shota Imanaga. His baseball journey eventually took him stateside beginning with two seasons at Phoenix Junior College.
“That was the first time I came to the States,” Hayashi said. “I’d never been to any other country. I spent 18 years in Japan. I knew a couple people who played college baseball in the States, but I had no idea what the process was.”…