Masa Saitō's name as announced by announcers?

[stunning_grover]

The surname usually gets announced first, right? But why do the announcers announce Masa Saitō as "Masa Saitō" and not "Saitō Masa"?

I noticed that the "Masa" part of his name is actually written in katakana, but why? And I guess that has something to do with my original question?

[Hisaharu Tanabe]

His name is "Saitō Masanori". Since it is common to abbreviate first names in the US, "Masa Saito" gives a more foreign feeling to it.

Jahno.

[stunning_grover]

Okay. Thanks for the reply.