Graphic for the 2026 NPB Draft. Kansai Sugimoto in a navy Thunderbirds jersey and Fudai Nerei in a red-pinstripe Cardinals jersey and cap stand on either side of the NPB and Abbotsford Cardinals logos. Text reads Kansai Sugimoto, Yokohama DeNA BayStars, and Fudai Nerei, Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks.

Alumni

Sugimoto, Nerei selected in 2026 Nippon Professional Baseball Draft

The Abbotsford Cardinals and West Coast Baseball Collective would like to congratulate Kansai Sugimoto (’20) and Fudai Nerei (’26) on their selections in the 2026 Nippon Professional Baseball Draft! The NPB is widely regarded as the top professional baseball league in Japan.

Sugimoto was selected in the 3rd Round by the Yokohama DeNA Baystars. “Sugi” played for the Cardinals from 2019-2020, then moved to Ontario to join the Ontario Blue Jays. He continued his baseball career at University of British Columbia (NAIA) where he was a standout two player for the Thunderbirds.

Nerei was selected in the 19th Round by the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks. Nerei played for the Cardinals from 2023-2026. Nerei was an integral part of the Cardinals success in 2025-26, where he finished 5th in RBIs (26) amongst the PBL League Leaders. He then went on to attend Fresno City College (3C2A)

Sugimoto and Nerei are the first two Cardinals alumni to be selected in the NPB Draft! Congratulations to Kansai and Fudai!

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