Rakuten Eagles pitcher Wataru Karashima

Rakuten Eagles pitcher Wataru Karashima held a retirement press conference in Sendai City, Miyagi on the 3rd. At the beginning, he stated, "I have decided to retire at the end of this season. Thank you for these 18 years. Right now, I feel a sense of fulfillment."

Regarding the timing and reason for his decision to retire, he explained, "There wasn't a specific moment, but I entered the season thinking that if things didn't go well this year, I would retire."

My gratitude to many people is endless. The person I wanted to thank above all was my grandfather. With tears in his eyes, he revealed, 'The one I am most grateful to is my grandfather who taught me baseball. He passed away last month, but he is the one who taught me baseball.'

He expressed his desire to remain involved in baseball in the future. 'Nothing has been decided at this point, but baseball changed my life and saved me in many ways, so I hope to contribute back in some form or another,' he envisioned.

Karashima joined the team as the 6th draft pick in 2008 from Fukuoka Iizuka High School and has spent his entire 18-year career with the Rakuten Eagles. He has continued to support the team primarily as a starter with a pitch style that makes full use of varying speeds. He recorded his first professional win in 2012. In 2013, he experienced the club's first league title and Japan Series championship. In 2019, he achieved a career-high 9 wins. He was also the last remaining homegrown member of the club's championship-winning team.

Last season, he was limited to just two appearances with the first team and underwent surgery on his left elbow in October. While there were times this season when his condition did not fully recover as he aimed for a comeback, he overcame his rehabilitation and returned to the mound with the mindset of "doing whatever it takes to help the team." In the farm league, he appeared in nine games, recording 3 wins, 1 loss, and a 3.67 ERA. His career totals stand at 56 wins and 74 losses with a 4.01 ERA over 210 appearances.

He is scheduled to start the game against the Orix Buffaloes on the same day (at Rakuten Eagles Mobile Saikyo Park Miyagi) and pitch to one hitter. A retirement ceremony will be held after the game.

Wataru Karashima. Born October 18, 1990, in Fukuoka Prefecture. 35 years old. As the ace of Iizuka High School in the summer of his third year, he led the school to its first Koshien appearance. He joined the Rakuten Eagles as the 6th draft pick in 2008. He made his professional debut in 2009 as a rookie. In 2019, he recorded a career-high 9 wins. In 210 total appearances, he has 56 wins, 74 losses, and a 4.01 ERA. 173 cm, 72 kg. Left-handed pitcher and hitter.