Orix Buffaloes pitcher Sho Iwasaki, who had been adjusting in the minor leagues since before the season started due to a knee injury, is on the verge of returning to the first team. The reliable veteran reliever, who recorded 17 hold in his first year with the team and contributed to the team's win, is approaching his 19th season as a "year of determination."
"Last season, the 'resolve' I had to accept that it would be okay to end it this year worked out well. It's true that if you play cautiously because last year went well, you might start to think you can continue for another one, two, or three years, so I'm making this a year of 'resolve' to get rid of that feeling and return to my roots." Iwasaki spoke about his aspirations for this year in mid-March.
Iwasaki played in Koshien while attending Ichikawa Funabashi High School (Chiba) and was drafted first overall by Softbank Hawks in the 2007 high school draft. reliever from a starter to closer, and is a hard-throwing pitcher who appeared in 72 games in the 2017 season. He underwent Tommy John (TJ) surgery in 2022 but made a comeback with increased velocity, and was traded from Chunichi to Orix Buffaloes in May of last year. Although he was traded mid-season last year, he recorded a top speed of 160 km/h and appeared in 37 games, making a significant contribution to the team's A-class finish.
Last autumn, Iwasaki had an encounter that allowed him to share and reaffirm his sense of "determination." That encounter was with Takashi Saito, a former DeNA player. Just before turning 36, Saito signed a minor league contract with the MLB's Dodgers for approximately 5 million yen, and subsequently played for the Red Sox, Braves, Brewers, and Diamondbacks as a setup man and closer. In his seven years in MLB, he appeared in 338 games, compiling a record of 21 wins, 15 losses, 84 saves, ERA of 2.34. "Saito told me, 'While good contract terms are important, the biggest factor in my success was deciding to commit to playing here with determination.' Last year, I also went into the game with the resolve that it would be okay if it ended that year, and I was able to reaffirm that this was a good thing," said Iwasaki.
Iwasaki also received an "inquiry" from a Major League team last offseason. It wasn't a concrete offer, but rather a basic investigation to see if he had any intention of playing in the majors. He was under contract with Orix Buffaloes, so the talks didn't progress, but he recalls, "There are tons of pitcher like me, as you can see in the WBC (World Baseball Classic), so I don't think it's possible, but only a limited number of people get the chance to challenge themselves, so I was really happy." His knee pain has healed, and in May he made appearances in two games, a minor league game and a practice game, pitching a total of two inning, allowing only one hit, strike out three, no walk, and giving up no runs, showing that he's in good shape and will soon be returning to the lineup. At 36 years old, his 19th season of "determination" is about to begin.
Interview and text by Masaki Kitano
