A few hours after the United States national baseball team qualified for the Tokyo Olympics, two players expected to be key members of Samurai Japan's Olympic effort returned to the field in NPB.

Yomiuri Giants ace Tomoyuki Sugano and Hiroshima Carp outfielder Seiya Suzuki might have been a little rusty on Sunday, but there's time for both to round back into top form for both the pennant race and the Tokyo Games.

Sugano is one of the top hurlers in Japan but hasn't pitched on the top team since being taken off the roster on May 8 because of elbow discomfort.