pitcher Fuki Tanaka (22), originally from Asahikawa City, was notified by the Lotte Marines that he would be released from the team, but has decided to continue playing for a non-professional baseball team in Hokkaido. He joined the Lotte Marines as the first pick in the 2021 development draft. Now, with four years of professional experience under his belt alongside his predecessors competing on the world's highest stage, he will once again take to mound.
He will try to make a comeback in his hometown of Hokkaido. After being informed that he was out of the lineup, Tanaka received offers from several teams, including softball teams, to play for other NPB teams, but "My parents are in Hokkaido, so I wanted to show them how I baseball was playing nearby. I wanted to be in an environment where I had friends and acquaintances around me. He decided to play hardball in Hokkaido, where he was born and raised.
He clocked his fastest speed at 150 km/h when he was a student at Asahikawa Minoru High School. He wore the Lotte uniform in hopes of getting a contract under control. In the off-season of his second year, he had the opportunity to train with Akinori Sasaki pitcher (23), who is currently playing in the World Series with the Dodgers. catch He was also my ball partner, and he said, "I can't describe it in words. I felt a buzzing sensation. It was amazing," he said, keenly aware of the difference in level. He was also a member of the "Yanaginuma-kai" (Yanaginuma's club), and even outside of ground he sometimes received praise for the quality of his ball from older players with whom he was familiar, but he was unable to break out of the three-digit number mark.
He was first notified in 2012 that he would be cut from the team, but was re-signed as a development player. In October of this year, he was notified for the second time that he would be cut from the team. Although his fastest pitch had improved to 152 km/h, he was prepared to be fired once the registration deadline at the end of July passed. The word "retirement" even crossed his mind. However, he received advice from a teammate with work experience, and decided to continue playing, saying, "Representing a company and playing as a one-shot is different from playing professionally. He told me it would be fun, so I wanted to give it a try."
He is 22 years old and a fourth-year university student. While players of his generation are being selected in this year's draft, he is suppressing his feelings of frustration and continuing to train independently at his alma mater and other places. "I don't regret going pro. I learned a lot of things, so I want to cherish everything. In the working world, I will do my best to help the team win, rather than just my own results." He has spent four years as a professional baseball player. After being an amateur and professional, he will put that experience to good use in his "third" baseball career. (Shimayama Tomofusa)
◆ Tanaka Fuuki was born on August 23, 2003 in Asahikawa City. He is 22 years old. He started playing baseball with the Asahikawa Shintomi Youth baseball Club when he was in the first grade at Asahikawa Shintomi Elementary School. He played on the baseball team at Asahikawa Meisei Junior High School. He was on the bench at Asahikawa Jitsugyo High School from the spring of his first year, and in the fall of his second year, they were runners-up in the prefectural tournament. He was selected by Lotte as the first development player in the 2021 draft. He is 180 cm tall and weighs 84 kg. He throws and bats right-handed. He is composed of his parents and two older and younger brothers.
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