Yokohama BayStars pitcher Takumi Nasuno on Thursday denied ever handing money to Nihon University team manager Hiroshi Suzuki as part of a 530 million yen signing bonus he received from the Central League team.
The BayStars are the latest professional club to become embroiled in a scandal over scouting amateur baseball players. "I never gave him money" said Nasuno a day after it was revealed he accepted 530 million yen, well in excess of the maximum amount allowed of 100 million yen, from the club after the 2004 season. Yokohama did not mention Suzuki ever receiving money in its statement released Wednesday.