When it comes to searching the North American major, and minor, leagues for raw talent to bring to Japan, few have the credentials or track record of former Yokohama BayStars scout Tadahiro Ushigome.
For over 35 years, Ushigome has made a living circling the globe in search of foreign baseball players with both the physical and mental attributes required to adapt to Japan's unique brand of baseball.
"The secret to my success over the years has been trust, respect and a lot of research," Ushigome told reporters Thursday at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan.
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