Yomiuri right-hander Brian Bannister has voluntarily left the Giants organization, citing fears over the nuclear crisis facing the Fukushima Daiichi plant following the March 11 earthquake in eastern Japan.
According to team representative Hidetoshi Kiyotake, Bannister, 30, has returned to the United States and has said he has no plans to play baseball again, whether it be in the U.S. or Japan.
"It's unfortunate, but there is nothing that can be done. We have to respect his decision," Kiyotake said.
Formerly a pitcher for the Kansas City Royals, Bannister was expected to join the Giants' starting rotation after the team's acquisition in the offseason, but he left for the U.S. on March 16 following the quake.