On the 11th, Softbank pitcher Haruta Hamaguchi visited the farm facility in Chikugo City, Fukuoka and announced his retirement from active play.
He joined DeNA as the first pick in the 2016 draft. He recorded 10 wins in his first year, totaling 44 wins. He was traded to Softbank in December of last year in exchange for Mimori. In April of this year, he underwent surgery for ossification of the yellow ligament, a rare disease designated by the government. He was unable to pitch in the first team this season and was notified of his release during the Japan Series. He had considered continuing his career in the NPB, but said, "Little by little, my decision to retire became firmer," and decided to put an end to his nine-year career. He revealed that he has not yet decided what his future holds.
After answering the questions, the 30-year-old left-hander began by saying, "One last thing from me." He bowed his head and said, "I'm not the most sociable person, so I apologize for not being able to respond in a good way. Thanks to all of you, the thoughts and efforts of players like us, sports teams, and others are reaching people all over the world, and I'm beginning to feel grateful for that. I'm retiring from professional baseball, so I'd like to continue following baseball and sports as a fan through your articles and words. Thank you very much."
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・ [Softbank] Harudai Hamaguchi undergoes surgery for the incurable disease "ossification of the yellow ligament"... Also undergoes surgery on his left elbow. The left-handed pitcher joined the team in a trade from DeNA in December last year.
・ [Softbank] Shota Takeda continues playing: "If there's a team that will pick me up, I'll do my best." He underwent surgery on his right elbow last April, "because I've worked so hard to improve my game."
・ [Softbank] Shota Takeda, who was cut from the roster, announces he will continue playing. "I went through the effort of undergoing surgery and getting stronger. I want to be able to show it off."
・ [Softbank] Katsuki Matayoshi who was cut from the roster, said, "I can still go. Even if my body is broken, I want to contribute." He also expressed his gratitude for the words of a fan at an izakaya.
