
From Nomo to Ichiro to Ohtani: Japan's baseball rise in MLB hits high point in Dodgers-Cubs series
TOKYO — Ichiro Suzuki was having his typical day on a baseball field in 2000, putting on a power display during batting practice before ripping line drives all over the field for the Orix BlueWave during a preseason doubleheader.
American infielder Torey Lovullo — who was in the other dugout playing the final year of his career in Japan with the Yakult Swallows — couldn't believe his eyes.

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6 surging Rangers transfer headlines that go beyond Coady and Turgeman as £20m vision faces strict timeline
New Rangers boss Russell Martin is looking to add some new talent to the Ibrox dressing room before pre-season kicks off. That gives sporting director Kevin Thelwell until June 23 to snap up some new talent - with Conor Coady and Dor Turgerman on the agenda. Advertisement Negotiations have started with Leicester City over a potential deal to bring in experience Coady - while rising talent Turgerman has opened the door to a move by admitting he is ready to leave Maccabi Tel Aviv. READ MORE: Rangers transfer latest as Birmingham stance on Davies and Dowell revealed and Hagi told his 'last option' READ MORE: Joe Aribo makes transfer decision as Russell Martin holds 'trust' card amid Rangers return clamour But with the American revolution in full flow at Ibrox, CEO Patrick Stewart has promised Martin he'll be handed a significant chunk of the £20million set to be injected in the Premiership giants by their new owners.. Advertisement So, who else could be coming in? And who could be shown the door? Record Sport takes a look. Metinho Troyes' midfielder Metinho has caught Rangers' eye after a successful loan at FC Basel last term. But the Light Blues' face a battle to land the £5million-rated star as they prepare for his signature with the Swiss champions - who are looking to make the deal permanent despite not holding an option to buy. BaZ report it is "unclear" if Basel will be able to secure a return and meeting the valuation - leaving the door open for a move to Ibrox. Largie Ramazani Reports in Spain suggest Leeds United's Largie Ramazani is a target for the Light Blues' this summer - just a year on from his £10million move to Elland Road from Almeria. Advertisement And former Leeds' goalkeeper Paul Robinson has urged the club to cut their losses with the winger, telling MOT Leeds News: "He's struggled to get in the side this season and I think at times, to his detriment, he's been an impact player off the bench. And I think that's maybe how the manager sees him. "And if they can get better than what they've got, which is what they have to do to stay in the Premier League, he could be one that's allowed to leave. 'He had a little spell of games, didn't he, in the Championship, but didn't play regularly, week in and week out. And he may be one where Leeds need to cut their cloth accordingly. He may be one that's allowed to move on.' Cyriel Dessers The striker has already revealed he has interest from Greece this summer - but while on international duty he has set himself the goal of scoring more for Rangers. Cyriel Dessers When asked about his lack of recent caps for Nigeria, he said: 'I'm not the one making the choices. So, the only thing I can do is to perform well and score goals at my club … to ensure that I'm ready to be called up. Advertisement 'Once I'm called upon, I should be able to show what I can do for the team. That I would have to do with goals, hard work and dedication,' Nedim Bajrami Nedim Bajrami will hope to impress his new boss when he returns for pre-season - with Record Sport understanding the Albanian is keen to stay in Glasgow and fight for his place in the team. After a disappointing first season in Scotland, reports in Albania suggest that clubs in Germany and Italy are on alert for a potential deal. Harry Darling He has already been signed twice by Russell Martin at MK Dons and then for Swansea City - but Record Sport understands Rangers are currently not in the race for his signature as his contract ticks down. Advertisement Director of football Richard Montague says Swansea remains hopeful Harry Darling will sign a new deal with the club - despite reports that Norwich City are leading the race for the soon-to-be free agent. He told Wales Online: 'The ball is very much in Harry's court. "We made him what we thought was a very strong offer and I believe he would think is a very strong offer. Jamie Vardy It would be a landmark signing for the new owners - and Rangers are said to be among the club chasing Jamie Vardy after his Leicester City exit. The signing race for the 38-year-old appears to have lost a club - with Wrexham transfer consultant Les Reed telling the i: "Let's take an equivalent of Jamie Vardy. Advertisement "Everyone thinks he's out of contract, there's no transfer fee, Wrexham could do that. You're talking about players who are on £140,000 a week. "We are a million miles away from that. There is a certain level of Premier League player who, if they are on £100k to 150k-a-week, are still going to get closer to that if they move to the MLS or Saudi Arabia than if they go to Wrexham." Tune in to Hotline Live every Sunday to Thursday and have your say on the biggest issues in Scottish football and listen to Record Sport's newest podcast, Game On, every Friday for your sporting fix, all in bitesize chunks.
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Vaclav Cerny sees sensational Rangers form kill hopes of permanent move as mega fee and eye-watering wage revealed
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Flynn Downes 'wanted' by Rangers boss Russell Martin as mega Southampton price tag tests 49ers transfer resolve
Southampton playmaker Flynn Downes is reportedly a target for Rangers this summer. New boss Russell Martin is said to be keen on a reunion with the 26-year-old in the Scottish Premiership - having previously managed the 26-year-old at Swansea and the Saints. Advertisement Downes was a key member of the Southampton team that secured promotion through the play-offs in the 2023/34 campaign while on loan from West Ham. READ MORE: Rangers news bulletin as battle intensifies for transfer target and Barry Ferguson told he could have Ibrox job for life READ MORE: 6 surging Rangers transfer headlines that go beyond Coady and Turgeman as £20m vision faces strict timeline He would return to to the south coast ahead of their return to the Premier League for a £15million fee. Flynn Downes of Southampton -Credit:Getty Images The Sun report that the newly relegated St Mary's side would demand at least £10million to sell Downes - and could price out Rangers. Advertisement But with the American revolution in full flow at Ibrox, CEO Patrick Stewart has promised Martin he'll be handed a significant chunk of the £20million set to be injected in the Premiership giants by their new owners.. It could be a big call by sporting director Kevin Thelwell, with the report also noting Nottingham Forest left-back Harry Toffolo is a target as he prepares to leave the club as a free agent. The report comes after Record Sport revealed Conor Coady and Dor Turgerman on the shortlist of targets this summer. Negotiations have started with Leicester City over a potential deal to bring in experience Coady - while rising talent Turgerman has opened the door to a move by admitting he is ready to leave Maccabi Tel Aviv. Advertisement Follow Record Sport on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for all of the up-to-the minute breaking news, video and audio on the SPFL, the Scotland national team and beyond. You can get all the news you need on our dedicated Rangers and Celtic pages, and sign up to our newsletters to make sure you never miss a beat throughout the season. We're also on WhatsApp where we bring all the latest breaking news and transfer gossip directly to you phone. Join our Rangers community here and our Celtic community here. Tune in to Hotline Live every Sunday to Thursday and have your say on the biggest issues in Scottish football and listen to Record Sport's newest podcast, Game On, every Friday for your sporting fix, all in bitesize chunks.