Vissel Kobe striker Lukas Podolski will throw the ceremonial first pitch at a Japanese professional baseball match on Friday, June 21, the club has announced.
The former German international will take to the mound before the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles host the Orix Buffaloes at Miyagi Baseball Stadium.
Podolski and his Vissel team-mates are in town to face Vegalta Sendai in a pre-season friendly on July 22 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Yurtec Stadium.