◆ Sports Hochi Journalist Column "From Ryogoku"
This year, while many rookies entered the world of professional baseball, almost the same number of players hung up their uniforms. Most were released from their contracts, but I remember Rakuten Eagles 's Okajima's seemingly happy retirement game.
It is a well-known story that in the summer of 2001, when Japan won the championship, he made a direct appeal to then manager Hoshino outfield to use him in the second half of the season at a sake bar. starting line-up A few days later, he was assigned to "No. 1, right wing" for the first time, and in his first at-bat, he hit a shot in the middle that made both knees tremble, opening up his career as a outfielder.
His gritty playing style was based on "spirit" and "guts." In July 2017, he dislocated his left shoulder when he crashed into wall while chasing a foul fly. The effects continued into 2018, resulting in a slump with a season batting average of .190. Although it was during a meal, it was the first and last time we heard him say "it hurts..." while he was playing in the first team. In February 2019, he underwent major surgery that would take six months to heal.
I have heard of foul flies that caused injuries. wall I felt like I was going to catch the ball at the time, whatever it was. If the same batted ball came, he said, "I'll go catch it in the same way." "It's originally catcher, so I know how hard it is to get that one out, one strike. It's not okay to get hurt, but if there's a chance to catch it, I'll go catch it." He was such a player.
I couldn't attend his retirement game in person, so I watched it on TV. Even though tears must have blurred his vision, his final at-bat as a pinch hitter resulted in his 813th career hit, a hit drive back to center fielder. I want to wholeheartedly applaud his 14-year career, fought through despite his relatively small physique for a professional player. (baseball correspondent: Yasushi Yamaguchi)
◆Hirofumi Yamaguchi: Joined the company in 2001. He has worked at branch offices three times, mainly covering professional baseball in Hokkaido, Tohoku, and Hokkaido.
