An American Inside Japan's Rubber-Ball Baseball with Ryan Denton

Dude, Nice Glove! · Oct 22, 2026 · 47m

Move to Japan. Find a baseball team. Step into the box—and discover they want to know whether the American can hit a breaking ball.

Ryan Denton joins Scott Payne on Dude, Nice Glove to share his experience as an American living and playing baseball in Japan.

Ryan introduces us to nanshiki, Japan's rubber-ball baseball, and explains the competition, the pitching, and the culture surrounding the game. He also shares what it meant to find a team that welcomed him, even while he was still learning the language.

And, of course, we talk gloves: neighborhood baseball shops, an unexpected SSK…