The Yomiuri Giants' Tomoyuki Kanno signed a one-year, $13 million contract with the Baltimore Orioles on the exercise of overseas free agent qualification, and now it is confirmed that the No. 19 back number will be approved for the new season, which is also the back number worn by Koji Uehara when he was with the Orioles.

When Tomoyuki Kanno joined Yomiuri Giants in 2013, he wore the number "19" for the first six seasons, and since 2019, he has taken over the number "18" representing the team's ace.

Since the "18" of the Golden Orioles is currently used by head coach Brandon Hyde, Kanno chose to return to the familiar "19".

It is worth mentioning that the "19" was worn by Japanese pitcher Koji Uehara from 2009 to 2011, and the "19" was worn by Uehara from 1999 to 2008 during the Giants, and was later taken over by Kanno in 2013. Now, Kanno has once again put on the number 19 to continue this special relationship.

Prior to Kanno's arrival, left pitcher Cole Ilvin had worn the Orioles' "19" for the past two seasons, but he moved to the Minnesota Twins midway through last season, leaving that number vacant again.