◆ Pacific League Softbank 6-1 Seibu (13th, Kyocera Dome)
The first thing Softbank manager Kokubo said at win press conference was, "Richard, you hit home run." When asked about winning pitcher Moinelo, he was very happy to hear the good news about Richard, whom he has been training diligently since his time as the manager of the second team. "It must have been easy for him to play in the Hiroshima uniform (where they play in the Western League). Hiroshima knows how scary it is to be home run king for five consecutive years," he said, expressing his joy at The Giants' best start. "I think the change in environment will be a positive thing for him," he said, wishing him success in his new homeland.
Yamakawa, who is from the same hometown of Okinawa and who trains with him as a younger brother, also seemed deeply moved. He said that the phone call on the 12th to inform him of the trade lasted five seconds before he hung up. "It feels strange to tell him to do his best now. He's always been a bit of a tsundere. If you pay attention to him, he'll come to you. You have to keep him at a distance. I've been telling him not to come to the first training session, but he still comes. That's what makes him so cute. But there are times when that's not okay, and that's just the kind of person he is," he said, showing his love for Richard.
"As a Richard fan, I'm rooting for him. We all know that he definitely has the ability. His batting speed is incredible. It's about the same as Ohtani's. But he needs to find what he really is soon. I want him to have a way of life, something like a conviction that this is how he wants to live in this world," he said, expressing his hope that he will awaken by becoming independent.
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