pitcher with the Lotte Marines, who also played for The Giants and the Red Sox, has decided to retire. Yuho Kataoka, a reporter covering The Giants who has covered Sawamura since his first year as a pro, said, "I saw" Sawamura's high level of professionalism.
Sawamura has always approached professional baseball with a high level of professionalism. As a young player, he struggled with a right shoulder pitch.
"Getting injured means you lack skill. pitcher who can't throw the ball or do his job is worthless."
Learning from his bitter experiences, he has paid close attention to his conditioning and has always researched better ways to use his body and training. Not only has he never had any shoulder or elbow injuries in his 30s, but his physique has improved year by year. The fact that he was able to throw a 156 km/h fastball last season at the age of 37 was likely due to the accumulation of his daily efforts.
Even during his time The Giants, he regularly had his right shoulder examined by an outside physical therapist who was known as a genius. The doctor knew Sawamura's muscles, bone structure, and body movements inside and out, and he trusted him completely. He often visited the doctor early in the morning before going to the stadium.
One day after practice in 2017, when he was suffering from long thoracic nerve palsy, he felt that he needed to have his right shoulder examined immediately. However, the doctor was in Okinawa on business. He still asked for treatment, and after receiving his consent, he rushed to Haneda Airport and boarded a plane without anyone noticing. After receiving an hour of treatment in Okinawa, he immediately returned to Tokyo. Despite the whirlwind half-day trip, he said, "It's all an investment in myself." The next day, he participated in practice as if nothing had happened.
As a boy, he admired Takahashi Yoshinobu and became obsessed with his beloved baseball, which has now become his job. With a strong sense of responsibility and a spirit of inquiry as a professional, he has devoted himself to the sport for 15 years in Japan and the United States. Although he is graduating baseball, his retirement marks the start of a new life for Sawamura, who is passionate about learning about everything. We look forward to keeping an eye on Sawamura's new path. (The Giants Coverage Manager Kataoka Yuho)
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