◆ Sports Hochi Journalist Column "From Ryogoku"

Switch gears. Look ahead. These are expressions that writers tend to use often, but they are difficult to actually put into practice. Twenty years younger than me, Orix Buffaloes pitcher Hiroya Miyagi remained remarkably composed even when faced with hardship.

He suffered a left elbow injury during a game against Lotte on April 9th and had to leave the game. A month later, he underwent ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction surgery in the United States. "Maybe I should have loved my precious body more..." he muttered before going to the US, a small smile on his face. What was the reason he was able to accept reality and remain positive? The support of his teammates was one of the factors.

One of the defining characteristics of Orix Buffaloes is the close relationships among their players, regardless of whether they are Japanese or foreign. When pitchers Perdomo and Machado took the mound against the Lotte Marines, they put their own medical care aside and rushed to Miyagi's side. "Are you okay?" Starting pitcher Espinoza had also undergone similar surgery, and he conveyed his heartfelt feelings to the ace he respects.

"You're young, so if you work hard, you can definitely come back even better. We'll be waiting for you!" Using the translation function on his smartphone, he translated the message into Japanese and showed it to Miyagi on the screen. Jerry, who joined the team this season, also asked, "What happened?" showing his concern for the process leading up to the surgery. When the surgery was decided, everyone sent their support, saying, "We're praying for you." While Miyagi is a sincere and humble person, it's rare to see foreign players try so hard to connect with him on a personal level.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto (Dodgers), who was once an absolute pillar of the team, is now in his third year in Major League Baseball. He has received concern and warm encouragement from Japanese players. "All I can do is imagine a bright future for myself." His biggest goal is to return to playing in one year. We will be watching with interest to see how the ace will "give back" to those who supported him. (Professional baseball Correspondent: Toru Nagata)

◆Toru Nagata: Joined the company in 2004. Covers professional baseball and soccer. Former defender, played right in a three-man defense.