Orix Buffaloes Buffaloes pitcher Hiroya Miyagi, who underwent Tommy John (TJ) surgery on his left elbow in the United States, has begun rehabilitation at the team's facility in Maishima, Osaka, with the aim of returning to the game in a year.

"My main goal was to eliminate my anxieties about the future. I want to work hard on my rehabilitation so that when I retire (from professional baseball), I can look back and think it was the right decision." Miyagi, in his usual sincere manner, took time out of his rehabilitation to give us an interview.

The incident occurred on April 9 against Lotte (Kyocera Dome). In the sixth inning, 1-0. With no outs bases loaded, he induced two consecutive swing-and-misses struck out, and when the first pitch to the next hitter became a ball, he was urgently taken out. The next day, he was diagnosed with a medial collateral ligament injury in his left elbow. After receiving second baseman opinions from domestic specialists, the surgery he arrived at was the same surgery in the United States as Shumpeita Yamashita pitcher, who had injured his elbow around the same time. According to insiders, he is one of the very few renowned doctors in the U.S. who performs a unique hybrid surgery technique where he reinforces an artificial ligament with a ligament he took himself. Shohei Ohtani (Dodgers) and others have undergone surgery, and Yamashita is also the surgeon for this doctor.

"If I was going to take on this challenge, I wanted to seek reassurance. Even though the surgery was successful (in Japan), there were few cases, and for me, there were many factors that left me feeling uneasy. This doctor has operated on billions of dollars worth of players. I've also seen Ohtani's return and his excellent pitching performance. I'm also grateful to the team for listening to my wishes," Miyagi said. Eliminating his anxieties about the future was the most important option among all the choices he had.

He has always been extra careful to avoid injuries. This season, too, in interviews before his starts, he repeatedly said, "I just want to avoid getting injured." It wasn't that he had any prior anxiety about getting injured; his reason was, "If I don't get injured, I'll get a chance to pitch, and I can pitch in the first team. I've always wanted to pitch in the first team." It was a manifestation of his determination to support the team as the ace. He never neglected taking care of his body, but it seems that the strain of using his small 171cm body to its fullest to face hitter finally caught up with him.

There was another reason why he didn't want to be sidelined by injury. It was the existence of the "Hiroya Miyagi Foundation," a general incorporated association that was established in February 2022 and started operations in 2023. It was founded with the aim of supporting children living in Okinawa who would otherwise have to give up baseball for economic reasons, by providing them with equipment and travel expenses. Currently, it supports a total of 11 boys and girls from the 4th grade of elementary school to high school.

For the fund to continue, Miyagi must remain active at the forefront of the sport. He is scheduled to return to the lineup in May of next year, so the fund can continue, but his salary is expected to decrease, which will reduce the funds available. "I want to take my time to improve my skills and be able to help the children (who are supported by the fund). I would be happy if the children could see me working hard as usual. I want to work hard while imagining myself recovering well and coming back in a new form." Even in the difficult situation of not being able to pitch in games for a year, he continues to support the children and remain an inspiration to them.

Interview and text by Masaki Kitano