[2] In the draft lottery, the Fighters drew the lucky straw, to the surprise and disappointment of Manager Hara and the Giants for they had assumed no other team would pick Sugano.

[5] After long consideration and deliberation with his family, Sugano finally announced on November 21 his decision to turn down the Fighters' offer and instead take the year off and re-enter the 2012 NPB draft.

[8][9] Having no team to play for, he then stayed with Tokai University for another year using the "graduation postponement system" established for students who are unable to land post-graduation jobs while they are still in college.

[10] In his rookie year, Sugano was named Climax Series MVP and made his first of six consecutive NPB All star games.

[11] After the 2020 season, on December 8, 2020, the Giants announced it was allowing Sugano to enter the posting system to play in Major League Baseball (MLB).

[15] On December 16, 2024, Sugano signed a one-year, $13 million contract with the Baltimore Orioles of Major League Baseball (MLB).

[11] Sugano was selected to participate in the 2018 MLB Japan All-Star Series,[18] but declined due to concerns about his physical condition.

[22] With a three-quarters delivery Sugano throws two fastballs (four-seam, shuuto/sinker) averaging nearly 92 mph, a solid slider, a cutter, a curveball, and a forkball.