Rakuten Eagles infielder Rui Muneyama (22) expressed his desire to win the newly established "Shigeo Nagashima Award" on the 18th. He held an open practice session during his self-training in Tokunoshima, Kagoshima. The award was established to honor the achievements of Shigeo Nagashima (who passed away last year at the age of 89), and is open to position fielder from all 12 teams. In addition to outstanding performance on the field, the selection criteria also include "captivating fans." "I hope I can make more and more plays that excite the people watching. If I keep working with that in mind, I think I can get closer to winning this new title," he said with a sharp gaze.

Mr. Nagashima left a lasting legacy in both the records and memories. Muneyama holds him in high esteem, calling him "the person who created baseball world of today." The image of Nagashima hitting a walk walk-off off home run in the 1959 game against Hanshin Tigers, which was attended by the Emperor, is etched in his mind. "National players have something special about them, and there's something about them that draws me in, so I want to aim to be like them." A player who is loved by fans and inspires them aligns with his ideal image of a player.

He has the potential to be a candidate. Last season, he played in 122 games, batting .260 with 3 Home Run and 27 RBI. He is the first Pacific League rookie to be named to the Best Nine short stop list in 44 years. He has a flashy playing style that combines running, hitting and defense, and he also has handsome looks. "It's a job where people are watching me, so I'm happiest when people think, 'I want to be like this,' and I want to become that kind of player," he said, showing his strong awareness as a professional player who carries the hopes of the fans on his shoulders.

He is currently training independently. One of his themes is improving his power hitting. "I'm not just focusing on batting average, but on imagining hitting long balls with a better swing," he says, focusing on the angle of the ball he hits. His captivating play has garnered a lot of attention. (Miyauchi Kota)