Darrell Lasner and Derrick White, who have supported Rakuten Eagles for many years as international scouts, shared their careers and their perspectives on Rakuten Eagles' foreign players.

In the second part, we will focus on Mr. White. During his playing career, he showed strong hitting and all-out play for teams such as the Cubs and Hanshin Tigers, and in 2010 he joined Rakuten Eagles as a scout. Since then, he has worked for many years as an international scout, diligently discovering and researching foreign players.

What are the strengths of the three foreign position fielder? Voit has some similarities to AJ.

According to White, this season's three foreign position fielder possess not only overwhelming physical abilities but also hidden intelligence and adaptability.

"First, regarding our new player Carson McCusker, when I first saw him, I was overwhelmed by his size and athleticism. He's not just a power hitter. Despite his massive size, he's incredibly agile and has high hitting accuracy. He's definitely a player who can be expected to have a good batting average in Japan."

"And then Oscar González has been supporting the team since the middle of last season. He has a very aggressive swing style, but he also has a special talent for making contact with any pitch and getting a hit. He's also sociable and can quickly get along with anyone. This good character will be a big asset for him to continue succeeding in Japan."

And the player White places his complete trust in as "the key to this season" is Luke Voit, a former major league Home Run champion who joined the team midway through last season.

"Luke has incredible skills, of course, but above all, his 'makeup' (personality) is amazing. He never rests on his laurels and always prioritizes the team's win; he's the best 'family teammate'."

Furthermore, White likened Voit's "invisible influence" on the team to that of Andrew Jones, who once contributed to Japan's championship and was recently announced as an inductee into the American baseball Hall of Fame.

"Rakuten Eagles have players like Hideto Asamura who are always trying to help those around them, but with Luke joining the team, the perfect balance has been created. When young players or foreign players are feeling lost, Luke, just like AJ (Andrew Jones' nickname) used to be, guides them with words based on his experience."

baseball is a sport of confidence. Even the greatest players fail seven out of ten times. That's why you need strong confidence to not lose sight of yourself. Luke tells the players, "You're in good shape, you should be confident." He simplifies things and encourages them by saying, "It's going to be okay." You can't imagine how much that one sentence saves the players. Having someone like him by their side is extremely important for Rakuten Eagles right now."

Modern scouting where "data" and "insight" intersect.

Thus, when evaluating players, Mr. White, who has made significant contributions to the team as a scout, places more importance on the player's "makeup" (character) than on cutting-edge statistics.

In modern scouting, the numbers produced by TrackMan and Hawk-Eye are undeniable. However, White deliberately emphasizes what lies beyond that. After reviewing the data, he uses his own eyes to determine whether a player possesses the "human qualities" necessary to succeed in a foreign land like Japan.

"These days, it's easy to measure ball speed and spin rate. However, while data tells us 'what a player has done in the past,' it doesn't tell us 'how they will behave when they encounter obstacles in the unfamiliar environment of Japan.' That's where the scout's keen eye and thorough investigation become necessary. I engage in dialogue with coaches and other personnel in the United States, striving to deeply understand their character. Because ultimately, what separates success in Japan from failure is whether or not they have the 'courage to adjust.'"

A prime example of this is Voit from last season. Although the statistics prove he has the power to be Home Run king in the majors, there was a period when he struggled against Japan's relentless outside pitching and fork.

"The level of Japanese pitcher is among the best in the world, and sometimes you have to fundamentally change your style to beat them. When Luke faced difficulties last season, he made the decision to stop using his trademark big leg kick."

A seasoned veteran, even at the expense of his past successes, is changing his approach. Looking solely at the data, this might be dismissed as a 'slump,' but what my scouting eye saw was his 'intelligence and flexibility to survive.' This is the essence of what I value in 'Makeup.' Only players with this kind of adaptability can translate the potential shown by the data into 'results' on the field."

From White to Rakuten Eagles fans

Finally, White addressed Rakuten Eagles fans, saying, "Thank you for always supporting the team. This year, the team has been significantly strengthened in offense, defense, and pitcher, and it should be an exciting season." He then smiled and added, "I am also looking forward to enjoying this wonderful year together with all the fans."

Interview and text: Takashi Takagi