Deunte Heath followed a long and winding path to reach the final stage of the Pacific League Climax Series with the Seibu Lions.
"I'm blessed," he told The Japan Times about landing with Seibu this season. "It's an honor. I'm just taking it game by game."
After things didn't work out with the Hiroshima Carp after the 2015 season (he spent two seasons with the club), Heath played winter ball in Venezuela and had stints with two different teams in the Mexican League. He was in Toyama earlier this year, playing in the independent BC League, when he got the call the Lions were giving him another shot in NPB.