MLB's Paul Skenes Tries Sumo at an Asakusa Venue
MLB's official social accounts on November 8 posted video of Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes, last season's National League Cy Young Award winner, trying sumo during a visit to Japan. Daily Sports reports he crouched at the edge of a dohyo-like stage and drove a rikishi back with a distinctive chest-grabbing push, drawing a surprised shout as he worked the other man toward the edge. MLB captioned the clip asking whether Skenes can do everything, 'including sumo?'
Sports Hochi adds that he visited a sumo entertainment venue in Asakusa, stepped onto the dohyo wearing a mawashi, grabbed his opponent by the chest and worked hard to push him out, drawing applause from the crowd. Nippon TV, which also described the video, says he was wearing a happi coat, that the two shook hands after the push-out, and that the 24-year-old also held a baseball clinic on the trip.
Sources: Yahoo! Japan Sports · Yahoo! Japan Sports (Sports Hochi)