SHIZUOKA (Kyodo) The father of Masumi Kuwata, a former pitcher for the Yomiuri Giants, died Sunday in a residential fire in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture, police said.
The body of Taiji Kuwata, 67, was recovered from the burned-out site of his home, they said.
Kuwata, 41, identified the body at a hospital.
"I have confirmed it was my father," he said. "I'm really sorry for my father's death. I wanted to play catch with him one more time."
After his contract with the Giants ran out following the 2006 season, Kuwata signed with Major League Baseball's Pittsburgh Pirates. He made his major league debut against the New York Yankees in 2007 before retiring from pro baseball in 2008.