Koji Uehara returned to Japan in a flurry of energy, splitters and high-fives.
If anyone was expecting the 42-year-old pitcher to dial anything back — no chance. Not on the mound, and not when it comes to dishing out vicious acts of celebration, as a few Yomiuri Giants players found out after Uehara left the mound.
"That's my style, I can't change it," Uehara said after making his season debut with Yomiuri in an 8-4 win over the Hanshin Tigers on Saturday afternoon. "But I don't want to hurt anybody with my high-fives," he joked.