Tomoyuki Sugano talks about life with Orioles, the U.S.

By all accounts, Tomoyuki Sugano has made an excellent adjustment to Major League Baseball. After 12 successful seasons in Japan, the 35-year-old right-hander is 2-1 with a 3.54 ERA in five starts.

Sugano also seems to be making himself comfortable in the United States and in learning the language. In an interview this week, while he was assisted by his translator, Yuto Sakurai, he demonstrated a good understanding of English and often answered questions without Sakurai’s help.

Question: Do you feel at home in America now?

Sugano: “Getting close to feeling.”

Q: What do you most like about what you’ve seen in the U.S?

Sugano: “Everybody’s very independent here. That’s what I like.”

Q: There aren’t many Japanese in Baltimore. Do you miss your friends? Do you miss your family?

Sugano: “Not so much. So far, I’m good.”

Q: What do you enjoy doing in your off time?

Sugano: “To be honest, my lifestyle is pretty much all about being at a baseball field so far. There’s not a lot to say about off-the-field stuff.”

Q: I know you like to play golf and you played with Adley Rutschman in spring training. Have you played much this season?

Sugano: “I went to golf in Arizona twice.”

Q: What’s your handicap?

Sugano: “Five.”

Q: Are there ballparks that you haven’t been to that you’re looking forward to seeing?

Sugano: “Yankee Stadium. I’ve grown up watching Hideki Matsui playing for the Yankees. I feel somewhat related.”

Q: How about the older ballparks, Fenway Park and Wrigley Field?

Sugano: “Chicago, Wrigley Field, San Francisco is another one.”

Q: How is it dealing with the media? How is it different from Japan?

Sugano: “In terms of the amount of media, not so different from when I was in Japan. The media weren’t able to come into the clubhouse back in Japan, so that’s a little different.”

Q: Is it weird having us around you after a game?

Sugano: “I just feel I have to get changed really quickly.”

Q: How does the media speak to you in Japan?

Sugano: “On the way out from the stadium, there’s a place where the media just kind of rushes into you. They’ll kind of quickly try to ask questions.” It’s similar to the “mixed zone” used in the Olympics.

Q: Have you gone out to dinner and done things with your teammates?

Sugano: “We went out to dinner with a bunch of the guys in Toronto before the first game of the season.”

What’s going on in the minor leagues? Samuel Basallo returned to Triple-A Norfolk’s lineup after missing time with a left hamstring injury. As the designated hitter in the Tides’ 10-1 loss to Memphis in the first game of a doubleheader, he walked and hit a sacrifice fly in two at-bats.

Raúl Alcantara allowed eight runs, seven earned on four hits and two walks without retiring a batter.

Basallo was hitless in four at-bats in the second game, a 7-5 Norfolk loss.

Dylan Beavers hit a three-run home run.

Ryan Long allowed one run on four hits in five innings as Double-A Chesapeake beat Altoona 3-2. Designated hitter Adam Retzbach homered.

Blake Money allowed two runs on four hits in 5 1/3 innings, striking out seven without walking a batter in High-A Aberdeen’s 4-3 win over Wilmington.

Catcher Ryan Stafford and first baseman Jalen Vasquez each drove in two runs.

Single-A Delmarva lost for the fourth straight time and the 15^th time in 19 games, 4-1 to Augusta.

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