Pirates' Kuwata planning for comeback

BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) -- Masumi Kuwata waited too long and worked too hard this spring to give up now on his career-long ambition of pitching in the major leagues.
Despite badly spraining his right ankle in a freakish way -- a frightening collision with umpire Wally Bell -- the Pittsburgh Pirates minor league pitcher won't retire and go back to Japan at age 38.
Instead, he plans to rehabilitate his ankle at Pittsburgh's extended spring camp, go down to the minors when he is healthy again and pitch his way to the big leagues.
There was speculation after Kuwata was hurt Monday that he might retire and go back to Japan, but he said Wednesday he is as determined as ever to keep going. Kuwata, who is wearing a protective boot on the swollen ankle, is expected to be sidelined for a month or so before he can resume throwing.
"I want to get healthy, then I will try to pitch in Double-A or Triple-A and after that I have confidence I can try the major leagues," Kuwata said. "As soon as possible I want to pitch in the major leagues."
Waited so long for chance
Maybe because he has waited so long for the chance.
Kuwata was one of Japan's most popular pitchers for 20 years, one so skilled he made the jump directly from the country's famed high school tournament to its major leagues in 1986. But financial troubles early in his career effectively forced him to sign what amounted to a lifetime contract with the Yomiuri Giants, Japan's best-known team.
Finally, after having numerous injuries and winning only nine games in four seasons, the Giants gave him his release after last season. He weighed offers from the Red Sox and Dodgers before signing a minor league deal with the Pirates, likely because he felt the path to the majors would be shorter with them.
A 173-game winner in Japan, Kuwata won as many as 10 games only once in the last eight years. But he remains so popular there that dozens of Japanese reporters have tracked his every move this spring -- videotaping every routine drill he takes, writing down every word he speaks.
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