Chunichi Dragons pitcher Maximo Nelson was released from police custody Saturday, a day after the Dominican was arrested for alleged gun possession at an airport in Okinawa Prefecture.
Prosecutors received papers from local police but decided to release Nelson, 27, after he admitted with remorse possessing a bullet in a bag at the domestic flight terminal of Naha airport on Friday morning.
Nelson remained in police custody overnight on suspicion of violating the gun and sword control law after the bullet was found when his baggage was checked for a flight bound for Nagoya, the home of the Central League team.
On Saturday, investigators searched Nelson's home in Nagoya but no bullets or guns were found, according to Okinawa police.
Nelson joined the Dragons in 2008 and has a 1-3 record with one save in 32 games over two seasons in Nippon Professional Baseball.
The Dragons plan to decide on what action to take after hearing from Nelson in Nagoya on Sunday.
"If we have to penalize him, anything would be possible — from home curfew to firing," club president Norihito Nishiwaki said.
