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I grew up in the countryside of Japan
with only a few baseball teams around,
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where most of the teams had never
been to big tournaments.
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I was sure plenty of other players
outshined me in talent.
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00:03:07,770 --> 00:03:10,982
Sure, I wanted to become
a great baseball player,
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but had no conviction it would come true.
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We had a computer at our house.
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I definitely looked pitchers,
but also searched for sequence shots
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and videos of various players.
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00:03:45,350 --> 00:03:48,895
You started being able to look up
these things online.
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That process had
a significant influence on me.
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Even as a kid it was obvious.
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00:04:37,151 --> 00:04:41,364
The players in the MLB
were on a different level.
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00:04:41,489 --> 00:04:43,825
Watching them on TV and other medias,
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Ichiro-san, Matsui-san, before them were
Randy Johnson, Pedro Martínez...
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00:04:50,456 --> 00:04:54,877
Barry Bonds, the list goes on,
Ken Griffey Jr. ...
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00:04:55,461 --> 00:05:01,342
Even as a child, it was clear to me that
MLB was the place for top-tier baseball.
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00:05:01,926 --> 00:05:05,847
I've always been the type
to take on challenges.
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I was inevitably drawn to see how far
I could make it in the MLB.
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I studied his batting form and this...
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I bet everyone's done it.
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I had a bat at home that I would
swing whenever I wanted to.
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I was just freewheeling back then.
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00:05:38,171 --> 00:05:39,922
I'm very flattered.
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00:05:40,298 --> 00:05:47,096
Knowing that Shohei, who has come so far
and has a huge presence in the MLB,
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looked up to me when he was
in little league is meaningful to me.
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00:05:56,731 --> 00:05:59,150
I'm very happy to hear that.
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00:06:06,949 --> 00:06:08,659
I doubt he wants this.
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Thank you.
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This is awesome.
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I'm not really the kind of person
who likes to ask for favors.
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I will treasure this.
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00:06:39,941 --> 00:06:44,028
Pedro Martínez is one
of my favorite pitchers.
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Particularly,
the earlier days of his career
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were what I really enjoyed watching.
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00:06:52,912 --> 00:06:59,544
Seeing players like him and the handful of
Japanese players who made it in the MLB,
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facing off on the big stage of the
World Series was a special moment for me.
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00:07:05,758 --> 00:07:09,387
Especially since
I was a fan of both players.
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00:07:23,901 --> 00:07:28,197
Yes, I saw it.
A home run into the right field.
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00:07:28,531 --> 00:07:33,828
Pedro Martínez might not be
a big-bodied athlete, but despite that,
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he efficiently imparts power to the ball.
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Not to mention his repertoire.
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Compared to him,
I'm on the larger side of pitchers.
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My size actually makes
it difficult for me to pitch like him.
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I knew I needed to practice a lot more
to do what he was doing.
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If a pitcher with a large build
like mine can execute such moves,
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I believe that player
would perform very well.
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I'm thankful for him being
a great example for me.
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Throughout the long history of baseball,
there have been many pitchers.
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But delivering a smooth pitch like his,
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there aren't many pitchers
who can match that.
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00:09:47,712 --> 00:09:50,047
Of course, I'm probably biased.
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My parents took me
to baseball practices every week.
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They let me pursue what I wanted;
I also took swimming lessons at that time.
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That was the role my parents fulfilled...
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00:11:00,159 --> 00:11:01,494
How should I say this?
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They are wonderful parents,
but not my mentors.
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00:11:08,084 --> 00:11:12,004
I really respect my parents
for who they are,
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but hearing the exact same words
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from a teacher I really respect
at school hits differently than
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hearing them from my parents.
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There's a difference to how
those words convey meaning to me.
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I love my parents
and am thankful for their support.
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I would never have been able
to do any of this without them.
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But when it comes to the question
of the most influential person in my life,
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that's a different story.
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Back when we were negotiating
to bring him to the Fighters,
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his mom was always there for us.
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There was a sense
of generosity about his parents.
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00:12:07,268 --> 00:12:10,688
They care for him a lot
and love him dearly,
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yet they always
let him decide for himself.
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His dad taught him the basics of baseball,
like playing catch and running hard.
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00:12:20,906 --> 00:12:26,287
Teaching him those important things
had a huge impact on him.
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00:14:33,873 --> 00:14:35,374
This is embarrassing.
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00:14:35,791 --> 00:14:39,628
Honestly... that was...
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That was supposed to be something
between just me and myself.
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00:14:45,926 --> 00:14:48,304
I wasn't ready for that to be exposed.
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I had hoped to keep that locked in a place
where no one could find it.
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00:14:58,814 --> 00:15:02,067
2010? He would have been in high school.
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00:15:05,029 --> 00:15:09,199
First of all,
to be "drafted first by 8 teams"...
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I never had a goal that big.
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00:15:15,164 --> 00:15:17,541
He wrote this in his freshman year?
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00:15:19,835 --> 00:15:24,715
I doubt any other players in the league
could come up with a plan like this.
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00:15:59,750 --> 00:16:03,963
In the early stage,
I think it helps to put in writing.
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People have a tendency to forget.
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Writing and posting notes where you
can see them is a simple act,
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but I think it's effective.
As you continue what you've written,
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the things you need to do
will eventually become second nature.
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00:16:25,109 --> 00:16:30,698
There're many ways to go about it.
It's not about which one is right.
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This is simply one approach.
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I think it's worthwhile.
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It's just what came to mind.
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I wasn't trying to think too hard.
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It was simply a list
of what was important to me at that time.
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I chose and wrote down
what I saw as being necessary.
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That's really all that was.
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This is from first grade?
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This really surprises me.
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You'll have to ask him why he wrote this.
I wonder what's behind his words.
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00:18:07,961 --> 00:18:09,797
I'd love to know the answer.
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Does it mean, as a first grader,
he already felt that he wasn't ordinary?
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There must've been something
that made him stand out from others.
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What impresses me
is that even as a first grader,
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he has an understanding about humility,
that you shouldn't brag about yourself.
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It shows how he knew that actions
speak louder than words.
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His parents deserve even more credit
for what they've taught him.
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I was just a normal kid.
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A slightly larger-than-average kid.
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Actually, I was probably way larger
than average in middle school.
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The offer to play as a two-way player
first came from the Nippon Ham Fighters.
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Initially, I had hoped to go directly
to the US after high school.
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Back then, aside from the Fighters,
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all of the other Japanese teams
only wanted me as a pitcher.
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There were also offers from some US teams,
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but they also only saw me as a pitcher.
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It was very clear that no one really
seemed interested in me as a hitter.
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So the Fighters were the only team
to propose such an idea.
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I thought it through and made my choice.
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In the end, that was the path
I decided to pursue in my career.
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It's important to develop your own style.
As I listened to Shohei,
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I could see that he was more
confident as a hitter than a pitcher.
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It seems he had been aware of the choices
he was making from the beginning.
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So in that sense,
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it appeared that he was the one who wanted
to continue on his own volition,
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and the Fighters provided the environment
for him to pursue his challenge.
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That's very intriguing to me.
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Since Shohei couldn't have been posted
to MLB without the Fighters' approval,
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I'm sure he had discussed it
for a number of years.
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That's definitely not the case
at a professional level.
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It's possible until high school.
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In high school, they don't play games
every day like the pros do.
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Maybe at a tournament it could happen.
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At the high school level,
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a player who can play any position, pitch,
and hit well is likely to lead the team.
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Once you reach the professional level,
you have to make a decision.
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It's very normal to choose
a specialty to focus on.
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The biggest reason was their proposal
to let me try both.
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I hadn't thought of that possibility.
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Until then, there weren't any teams
that considered me as a hitter.
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Amidst all this,
when Kuriyama-san suggested that
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I try for both, it got me thinking,
"I could give it a try."
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That's where the whole conversation began.
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Had he chosen one position, I assume he
would've thrived in the US much sooner.
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When it came to doing both,
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there was a question
of how far he could really go.
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I wanted him to truly excel at both,
at a level where
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he can compete in the MLB.
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He had the potential, and I was
determined to get him to that level.
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I sometimes wonder...
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Was he truly convinced that I could
genuinely become a two-way player?
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I would love to know the truth
about what he thought back then.
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I see him as one of the very
few people who believed in me,
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but did he see it
as a 100% attainable goal?
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Or maybe, at that point,
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the team was just trying to test
things out and see the outcome.
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{\an8}When I chose to join the MLB, some members
of the ball club actually told me,
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"We never really thought you could do it."
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I can totally understand.
So perhaps, for Kuriyama-san as well,
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it's understandable if it was simply
a strategy to recruit me to their team.
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If I failed to do both,
I could opt for just one.
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I knew those were generally
the expectations around me back then,
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but I was willing to take a bet
on my determination to make it work.
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It naturally makes me wonder
Kuriyama-san's... well,
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his true intention at that time.
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00:27:10,128 --> 00:27:14,132
How much faith
did he have in my potential?
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From the Fighters' perspective,
I can see it was a win-win either way.
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Either of the result
should have been a success for them.
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If my hitting failed,
they could simply use me as a pitcher.
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Once drafted, I would be at the mercy
of whatever the team decided to do.
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Given that,
I figured I might as well take the chance.
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I felt I could pull it off.
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I was happy to have the opportunity
to prove it.
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I was very sure he could do it.
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Shohei as a hitter and a pitcher,
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I had no doubt that both aspects of him
would be the best in Japan.
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That was one side of my intention.
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Mr. Yoshimura,
the GM of the Fighters back then, and I
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had extensive talks
and came to a conclusion:
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We had five years.
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If Shohei didn't make it
to the MLB in five years,
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then we'd failed him,
that's how much talent he had.
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That's how we went about it.
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My ultimate dream was to make it
as a player in the MLB.
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While that final goal didn't change,
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another dream emerged with in me,
to become a successful two-way player.
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With a new aspiration, I aimed to thrive
as a two-way player on the global stage.
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Darvish-san had left the Fighters
before I joined.
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So I ended up inheriting
his jersey number 11.
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- There was some tension there.
- There was.
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Some people thought it was too early
for the number 11 to be passed on.
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It's a special number to the team,
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and to Darvish-san.
It was an honor to get to wear it.
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It felt different from any other number.
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Yes, there were some issues about this.
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I knew that the scouts and the team
had done their research on Shohei,
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and it showed how high
their expectations were.
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Number 11 isn't mine to begin with.
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It was just the number I pitched with.
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Some said, "Shohei hasn't earned it yet."
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But I never saw it that way.
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Rather,
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I knew the team valued the number,
so when they passed it to him so soon,
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it made me very excited and eager to see
the kind of exceptional player he was.
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While people know how hard it is
to become a professional ball player,
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Shohei needs to work twice as much
to reach that level.
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His ability wasn't the issue.
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His body would be the one
to reach its limit.
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I had to figure out
how to balance the two.
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That was one of the crucial points.
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I never told Shohei what he needed to do.
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As he kept pushing forward,
I was just there for him,
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00:31:22,839 --> 00:31:26,718
making sure he had
a clear path to move on.
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He was doing his thing.
My job was to back him up.
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What he was trying to achieve
wasn't something you can teach.
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Maybe he thought he had what it took.
He felt he could pull it off.
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But I think he was more driven by the idea
of doing what no one else had.
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At least for me,
that would have been the case.
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You'll never know until you try.
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Going for what nobody's done before...
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Maybe 100 years ago, there might've been
players doing both.
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But in today's competitive world,
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attempting and achieving
what's never been done?
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The challenge itself must've been
the biggest drive for him.
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Even if you fail,
it's still worth the ride.
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After five, six or seven years,
I was sure he'd be physically ready
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to handle this tough challenge.
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For that period while he was building up,
he mustn't overdo it.
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This was a crucial rule for me,
but Shohei sometimes fought back.
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He'd insist on playing,
especially for important games.
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We had a lot of those exchanges
over email.
232
00:34:06,586 --> 00:34:10,882
However, it was my role
to stop him when I needed to.
233
00:34:11,591 --> 00:34:13,634
In order to succeed in the MLB,
234
00:34:14,093 --> 00:34:17,096
he had to build a solid foundation
in Japan.
235
00:34:17,221 --> 00:34:20,224
I truly believed
that was his shortest path.
236
00:34:20,433 --> 00:34:25,521
I was sure that Shohei would understand,
and he eventually did.
237
00:34:27,148 --> 00:34:31,569
However, whether my approach
truly succeeded or not,
238
00:34:31,903 --> 00:34:36,032
we'll only know
when Shohei stops playing baseball.
239
00:34:36,115 --> 00:34:41,204
I honestly can't tell
which was the right path to choose.
240
00:34:41,329 --> 00:34:47,043
I believe that going directly to the US
should be a viable option.
241
00:34:47,168 --> 00:34:50,588
I really can't say which is better.
242
00:34:51,005 --> 00:34:54,175
For me, it wasn't much
about staying in Japan,
243
00:34:54,509 --> 00:34:58,888
it was more about the opportunity
to be a two-way player.
244
00:36:01,701 --> 00:36:06,747
Well, when it comes to something
that you really want to achieve,
245
00:36:07,748 --> 00:36:12,128
there would always be some kind
of criticism you need to face.
246
00:36:12,670 --> 00:36:18,134
There would always be an obstacle
that you need to overcome.
247
00:36:19,427 --> 00:36:24,765
At the end of the day,
I know myself better than anyone else,
248
00:36:25,683 --> 00:36:30,229
and no one knows what I'm striving for
better than I do.
249
00:36:30,813 --> 00:36:35,943
I think I'll only be able to reflect
on what I dedicated myself to
250
00:36:36,694 --> 00:36:42,200
at the end of my career, after giving
everything I have as a player.
251
00:36:43,201 --> 00:36:45,828
From what I know of Shohei,
252
00:36:47,371 --> 00:36:53,044
he has always been very sure of himself,
even from a very young age.
253
00:36:53,169 --> 00:36:59,175
I know he's not the kind of person
that would be easily deterred.
254
00:37:13,105 --> 00:37:19,237
The most important factor was how serious
they were about me playing both positions.
255
00:37:20,613 --> 00:37:25,785
Given the limited time and few meetings,
256
00:37:25,952 --> 00:37:30,623
it wasn't really possible
to fully gauge their intentions.
257
00:37:30,915 --> 00:37:35,586
But in the end, I had conversations
with a few teams and decided.
258
00:37:44,804 --> 00:37:50,559
I thought he would end up choosing
either the Rangers or the Padres,
259
00:37:50,643 --> 00:37:54,605
but he surprised everyone
and signed with the Angels.
260
00:37:54,730 --> 00:37:57,525
I never had a chance
to find out his reasons.
261
00:38:18,796 --> 00:38:23,301
To be really honest,
I went with my gut feeling.
262
00:38:23,384 --> 00:38:25,553
When I chose my high school,
263
00:38:26,637 --> 00:38:29,849
when I first decided
to try for the MLB at 18,
264
00:38:30,099 --> 00:38:35,563
and when I ended up with the Fighters,
my decision was made the same way.
265
00:38:36,063 --> 00:38:39,025
In the end, I rely on my intuitions.
266
00:38:40,401 --> 00:38:45,823
That might sound arbitrary but it isn't.
267
00:38:47,199 --> 00:38:51,162
For example, if I'm given three options,
268
00:38:52,538 --> 00:38:54,373
I'll look at all three,
269
00:38:54,999 --> 00:39:00,296
and examine every aspect of them
so I can truly understand what I'm given.
270
00:39:00,504 --> 00:39:02,006
But at the end of day,
271
00:39:02,506 --> 00:39:05,968
I go with what feels right to me.
That's how it works.
272
00:39:06,719 --> 00:39:10,931
It's a little bit difficult to explain.
273
00:39:11,015 --> 00:39:13,726
It's similar with your batting stance.
274
00:39:15,102 --> 00:39:19,357
It's about choosing what matches
the vision of your future self.
275
00:39:19,440 --> 00:39:23,361
When considering what could be
the best decision
276
00:39:23,486 --> 00:39:27,156
for both myself and those around me,
277
00:39:27,698 --> 00:39:32,661
the Angels just seemed to stand out
the most, that's the main reason.
278
00:39:33,245 --> 00:39:37,375
Of course,
there were the meetings along the way,
279
00:39:38,292 --> 00:39:40,878
I talked to people from various teams.
280
00:39:41,337 --> 00:39:44,340
So I believe my intuition was based on
281
00:39:45,800 --> 00:39:52,473
all of those meetings and conversations
I had prior to making my decision.
282
00:39:52,807 --> 00:39:57,645
Ultimately, it led to my decision
to go with the Angels.
283
00:39:58,270 --> 00:40:00,064
His gut feeling?
284
00:40:01,607 --> 00:40:04,860
I expected a more specific reason
than that,
285
00:40:05,945 --> 00:40:10,282
although going with your gut
doesn't sound bad at all.
286
00:40:10,783 --> 00:40:15,413
It's your life. Relying on your intuition
might work the best.
287
00:41:34,783 --> 00:41:36,535
Starting next year,
288
00:41:37,453 --> 00:41:41,373
I would like to formally announce that...
289
00:41:42,249 --> 00:41:47,296
I plan to go and do my best in the USA.
290
00:43:10,379 --> 00:43:15,551
The spring training in 2018
was a disaster. My results were terrible.
291
00:43:16,760 --> 00:43:20,973
But in a way,
that's what I had signed up for.
292
00:43:21,056 --> 00:43:23,809
Time is limited for a pro baseball player.
293
00:43:25,477 --> 00:43:29,273
If I make it to 50,
that would be a miracle in itself.
294
00:43:30,065 --> 00:43:36,655
I want to dedicate my time and push
my limits to see how far I can go.
295
00:43:36,780 --> 00:43:39,575
You could say that it's sort of my hobby.
296
00:43:39,658 --> 00:43:43,829
While I struggled with my hitting,
I was also excited
297
00:43:43,912 --> 00:43:46,373
and aspired to achieve results.
298
00:43:46,540 --> 00:43:49,335
I didn't expect to do well
right off the bat.
299
00:43:49,918 --> 00:43:55,549
That goes for when I entered high school,
or when I started playing professionally.
300
00:43:55,674 --> 00:44:01,889
It almost never went well from the start,
but it was my decision to be there.
301
00:44:02,848 --> 00:44:08,395
The excitement of following my dream
outweighs any of those difficult times.
302
00:45:16,380 --> 00:45:21,510
I felt like I was stuck
during spring training.
303
00:45:22,094 --> 00:45:23,429
How can I say this...
304
00:45:24,221 --> 00:45:29,977
I'm not really the kind of person who
likes to ask other people for their help.
305
00:45:30,728 --> 00:45:34,690
There were moments at camp
when I felt hopeless.
306
00:45:34,773 --> 00:45:39,278
But in the end, I trusted myself
and what I've always done.
307
00:45:39,445 --> 00:45:41,697
It was still spring training,
308
00:45:41,780 --> 00:45:46,160
I had enough time
and was open to making adjustments.
309
00:45:46,285 --> 00:45:50,581
I made big changes in my swing
and tweaked many things.
310
00:45:51,206 --> 00:45:54,084
That's how I've managed to get this far.
311
00:48:13,098 --> 00:48:17,853
We've built a great relationship so far.
312
00:48:17,936 --> 00:48:24,735
We enjoy working together every day.
I'm confident I made the right choice.
313
00:48:25,360 --> 00:48:31,533
I'm very relieved to hear that.
What I constantly tried to tell Shohei,
314
00:48:31,950 --> 00:48:37,247
even when he headed to the US, is that
"What matters is what Shohei decides."
315
00:48:37,539 --> 00:48:42,461
Whatever you decide to do,
the gods of baseball will support you.
316
00:48:43,253 --> 00:48:47,507
I told him not to get caught up
in what others tell him to do.
317
00:48:48,175 --> 00:48:53,096
Looking at him making his own decisions
and trusting in himself,
318
00:48:53,889 --> 00:48:56,975
it genuinely makes me happy.
319
00:49:32,469 --> 00:49:36,139
For rookies or players
with limited MLB experience,
320
00:49:36,390 --> 00:49:39,309
this might seem exaggerated,
321
00:49:39,643 --> 00:49:43,689
but it often feels like
you have no rights.
322
00:49:43,814 --> 00:49:47,609
People will nitpick everything you do.
323
00:49:47,901 --> 00:49:50,946
All I wanted was to play baseball here,
324
00:49:52,030 --> 00:49:55,951
so I had a tough time
understanding that mentality.
325
00:51:06,354 --> 00:51:11,985
I had put in my time with the Fighters.
I developed my own routine and style,
326
00:51:12,069 --> 00:51:16,198
and I believe it was on that basis
I was signed on.
327
00:51:16,782 --> 00:51:21,369
Yet, back then, I often got
laughed at when I did things my way.
328
00:51:22,579 --> 00:51:24,539
It was a tough time for me.
329
00:51:25,832 --> 00:51:32,839
The MLB has made big changes since then.
Today's clubhouse has a different energy.
330
00:51:32,923 --> 00:51:37,094
But those first few years
were a real struggle for me.
331
00:51:37,636 --> 00:51:41,431
There were many times
I wanted to return to the Fighters.
332
00:52:36,027 --> 00:52:40,657
In my case,
I haven't been through it myself.
333
00:52:40,740 --> 00:52:45,036
I've never played for another MLB team,
so I can't say for sure.
334
00:52:45,954 --> 00:52:51,626
But you do hear rumors,
and you take those in as information.
335
00:52:52,127 --> 00:52:56,715
Because you're a rookie or Asian,
things can unfold in certain ways.
336
00:52:57,799 --> 00:53:03,471
Since I tend to inflate
my assumptions negatively
337
00:53:03,555 --> 00:53:08,685
and often expect the worst,
that was what I was prepared for.
338
00:53:10,395 --> 00:53:15,358
But that wasn't the case.
They were all really nice people.
339
00:53:16,109 --> 00:53:18,445
It's true, how do I put it...
340
00:53:18,987 --> 00:53:22,324
Everyone is very easy to work with.
341
00:53:22,574 --> 00:53:25,285
I've never had any negative feelings
342
00:53:26,411 --> 00:53:29,039
when it comes to relationships.
343
00:53:29,122 --> 00:53:33,752
I'm definitely lucky.
I find it a very good environment for me.
344
00:53:33,835 --> 00:53:38,256
There have been tough times,
including injuries,
345
00:53:38,590 --> 00:53:44,763
but I'm very happy being able
to come this far as a part of this team.
346
00:54:45,490 --> 00:54:50,787
Fortunately, I haven't really encountered
those kind of issues.
347
00:54:50,870 --> 00:54:55,792
I had a different outlook.
I expected I'd be dealing with a lot more.
348
00:54:57,544 --> 00:55:02,007
Especially among Angels fans,
there's a homey vibe.
349
00:55:02,090 --> 00:55:07,929
They made me feel very welcomed
and supported me a lot.
350
00:55:09,055 --> 00:55:14,853
That's one of the reasons why
I was able to focus on my performance.
351
00:55:14,936 --> 00:55:19,357
I consider myself very lucky
and thankful for my situation.
352
00:55:19,941 --> 00:55:24,404
I am surrounded
by an incredible support group.
353
00:55:24,487 --> 00:55:29,701
Having Ippei-san help with the translation
has been a big asset.
354
00:55:29,784 --> 00:55:31,369
I consider his presence crucial.
355
00:55:31,453 --> 00:55:35,498
You never know when a statement
might be received differently.
356
00:55:35,582 --> 00:55:39,961
For example, when it comes to jokes.
357
00:55:40,545 --> 00:55:44,466
They can easily backfire
due to misinterpretation.
358
00:55:44,549 --> 00:55:50,972
He's very good at capturing nuances
when he translates for me.
359
00:55:51,056 --> 00:55:54,726
That has been definitely a huge help.
360
00:55:55,226 --> 00:56:00,815
By the time Shohei came in 2018, things
had greatly improved in every teams.
361
00:56:00,899 --> 00:56:05,445
There was an ethical shift
towards accepting one another.
362
00:56:05,820 --> 00:56:11,368
So I can't really say
if he had a similar experience as mine.
363
00:56:11,785 --> 00:56:15,955
But in Shohei's case,
I am sure he had his rough time.
364
00:56:16,039 --> 00:56:23,004
His injury in the midst of all that media
attention mustn't have been easy for him.
365
00:59:01,746 --> 00:59:08,086
After the Tommy John surgery in 2019,
the following year was also a struggle.
366
00:59:08,169 --> 00:59:12,632
I didn't feel that
I was recovering how I should.
367
00:59:13,424 --> 00:59:14,842
I started to doubt.
368
00:59:16,135 --> 00:59:22,809
I thought it might be better to focus
on one position to obtain results.
369
00:59:23,142 --> 00:59:29,482
That was the time when I honestly
considered dropping the two-way path.
370
01:00:03,099 --> 01:00:06,686
There's one thing
I didn't get the chance to ask Joe.
371
01:00:07,395 --> 01:00:13,568
Back in spring training in 2021,
I was called into the manager's office.
372
01:00:15,028 --> 01:00:18,197
I was told there would be
no more rules for me,
373
01:00:18,281 --> 01:00:22,535
and they'd play me
without any restrictions that season.
374
01:00:22,619 --> 01:00:28,291
Joe was there along with our GM,
Perry Minasian.
375
01:00:30,168 --> 01:00:33,504
When I first heard them tell me that,
376
01:00:34,589 --> 01:00:36,633
how do I put this?
377
01:00:36,716 --> 01:00:41,095
I sort of figured
they were giving me an ultimatum.
378
01:00:41,179 --> 01:00:46,851
That this might be my last chance
to prove I could play two-way.
379
01:00:47,894 --> 01:00:53,441
At least that's how I took
the conversation we had in that room.
380
01:00:55,109 --> 01:00:59,572
Obviously I can't be sure
what was on their minds.
381
01:00:59,656 --> 01:01:01,449
Maybe they meant,
382
01:01:02,700 --> 01:01:05,703
"We are counting on you",
383
01:01:06,496 --> 01:01:10,249
or it could've been a final warning.
384
01:01:11,250 --> 01:01:17,382
As a player, that's not something
you can ask the manager about.
385
01:01:17,465 --> 01:01:20,510
But now that he's not in charge anymore,
386
01:01:22,011 --> 01:01:26,182
perhaps this is an occasion
for me to approach him directly.
387
01:02:10,893 --> 01:02:13,312
I'm glad to hear that.
388
01:02:13,396 --> 01:02:18,693
So there wasn't any underlying meaning
to what they told me.
389
01:02:19,569 --> 01:02:22,864
I misunderstood their intentions.
390
01:02:22,947 --> 01:02:27,326
However, I think that extra pressure
actually helped me to perform better.
391
01:02:27,410 --> 01:02:30,455
I was really disappointed
392
01:02:30,538 --> 01:02:35,042
with my performance
in the 2019 and 2020 seasons.
393
01:02:35,793 --> 01:02:42,216
I could understand if they felt things
weren't going as they had hoped.
394
01:02:43,259 --> 01:02:49,140
So, I entered spring training in 2021
with a strong determination.
395
01:02:49,724 --> 01:02:55,188
Turns out the management
had faith in me just as they said.
396
01:02:56,731 --> 01:03:01,652
Wanting to meet those expectations,
I had a great season.
397
01:03:01,736 --> 01:03:07,033
I think it worked out for the better
that I misunderstood their words.
398
01:04:32,201 --> 01:04:33,619
If you ask me,
399
01:04:33,703 --> 01:04:38,082
from the perspective of the manager,
400
01:04:39,584 --> 01:04:46,507
for better or worse, I'm just
one piece for him to use in the game.
401
01:04:49,802 --> 01:04:54,181
That's merely a simplified way
to look at it.
402
01:04:55,808 --> 01:05:00,605
With 30 teams in the league,
there are only 30 managerial positions,
403
01:05:01,272 --> 01:05:04,191
while there are many players out there.
404
01:05:05,067 --> 01:05:07,904
When it comes to strategy,
405
01:05:07,987 --> 01:05:14,118
or perhaps the ability to lead a team,
the mangers look at the big picture.
406
01:05:14,660 --> 01:05:19,540
Their impact on the team is far greater
than any individual player.
407
01:05:20,166 --> 01:05:24,545
I'm sure that's something I can't handle,
408
01:05:24,629 --> 01:05:28,799
and I find their role
absolutely remarkable.
409
01:05:28,883 --> 01:05:33,095
It's not just a matter of respect,
it's more than that.
410
01:05:33,679 --> 01:05:37,767
They're extraordinary.
There's so much to learn from them.
411
01:05:39,602 --> 01:05:41,938
At least, that's how I see it.
412
01:07:31,630 --> 01:07:37,720
I agree. That's the fundamental reason
why I play baseball.
413
01:07:39,138 --> 01:07:41,307
When it comes down to it,
414
01:07:41,390 --> 01:07:44,185
baseball is...
415
01:07:44,268 --> 01:07:48,022
Even though baseball is my profession,
416
01:07:49,148 --> 01:07:54,070
that's not all it is to me,
it's more than a career.
417
01:07:55,071 --> 01:08:00,785
Whether it's playing catch or
hitting a pitch, it's what I love to do.
418
01:08:01,410 --> 01:08:05,081
My love for the sport
is what has driven me to this point.
419
01:08:05,664 --> 01:08:11,796
Baseball has given me a purpose.
It's become a way of life.
420
01:08:12,254 --> 01:08:16,425
And this sentiment largely
defines who I am today.
421
01:08:18,677 --> 01:08:20,471
To be honest,
422
01:08:21,013 --> 01:08:26,602
I don't really know what kind of influence
I have on other people,
423
01:08:28,145 --> 01:08:31,816
but I hope it's positive in some way.
424
01:08:33,776 --> 01:08:39,740
That would be the reason enough
to keep doing what I do right now.
425
01:09:36,130 --> 01:09:38,507
I see it differently.
426
01:09:40,885 --> 01:09:44,054
He's achieved something no one else has.
427
01:09:46,640 --> 01:09:48,267
How should I put it?
428
01:09:48,684 --> 01:09:53,189
Calling him a "seeker of baseball"
might not be quite right,
429
01:09:53,647 --> 01:09:59,778
but I believe the journey he's on
will inspire future generations.
430
01:09:59,862 --> 01:10:04,033
Sorry, Shohei, but keep pushing forward.
That's my genuine wish.
431
01:10:05,993 --> 01:10:09,288
When he and I trained together,
432
01:10:12,249 --> 01:10:14,627
I ended up learning a lot from him.
433
01:10:14,752 --> 01:10:21,342
The speed at which he improved
was on a different level from anyone else.
434
01:10:23,761 --> 01:10:25,638
Looking back now,
435
01:10:26,222 --> 01:10:30,643
I've never encountered another athlete
436
01:10:30,726 --> 01:10:33,270
who is already outstanding
yet aims higher.
437
01:10:33,354 --> 01:10:39,902
I'm very grateful to have shared
such an experience with him.
438
01:10:39,985 --> 01:10:42,238
It was a privilege.
439
01:10:44,698 --> 01:10:50,579
We won't truly understand the extent
of his success until he's done.
440
01:10:50,663 --> 01:10:52,706
Everything looks great now,
441
01:10:52,790 --> 01:10:53,791
but at times,
442
01:10:55,000 --> 01:10:58,963
I question whether
I really made the right choices.
443
01:11:02,925 --> 01:11:07,972
All I can say is,
I believe I've made the right choices.
444
01:11:08,055 --> 01:11:10,099
Once you make a decision,
445
01:11:11,517 --> 01:11:17,731
it sets you on a unique path,
which leads you to a distinct experience.
446
01:11:17,815 --> 01:11:24,780
And you can never compare it
to what other options might have brought.
447
01:11:24,863 --> 01:11:27,616
You've only got one path to take.
448
01:11:28,826 --> 01:11:33,205
I've had bad seasons. I was injured.
449
01:11:34,206 --> 01:11:39,712
But looking back at everything,
I'm happy with the choices I made.
450
01:11:39,795 --> 01:11:41,255
As for the future,
451
01:11:42,089 --> 01:11:44,883
whenever I make a decision,
452
01:11:44,967 --> 01:11:51,223
I'll reflect on it and believe it was
the right call, and work to make it true.
453
01:13:55,389 --> 01:14:00,602
Shohei isn't afraid
of challenging himself in a way I can't.
454
01:14:02,229 --> 01:14:06,316
I recognize that
and see it as a quality I wish I had.
455
01:14:07,317 --> 01:14:13,407
I've never faced him in a game, but
I'm eager to know what it would be like.
456
01:14:14,575 --> 01:14:19,621
I wonder how I would react
once I step into the batter's box.
457
01:14:19,705 --> 01:14:23,125
I'm really looking forward to that moment.
458
01:14:24,209 --> 01:14:30,466
I get anxious when I struggle
throwing strikes and keep pitching balls.
459
01:14:31,800 --> 01:14:36,430
I don't know if Shohei feels
the same anxiety in those situations,
460
01:14:36,513 --> 01:14:40,476
but he pitches
as if he's totally unbothered.
461
01:15:26,188 --> 01:15:32,986
Simply put, I imagine what would
throw me off if I was the pitcher.
462
01:15:33,070 --> 01:15:39,076
When I'm pitching, it's the opposite.
I do what would bother me as a batter.
463
01:15:39,493 --> 01:15:44,331
I think that's probably a different
approach from other players.
464
01:15:44,456 --> 01:15:50,379
But I still need more experience.
Things have changed since my first year.
465
01:15:51,380 --> 01:15:57,803
My pitching varies based on who
the batter is and which team he's from.
466
01:15:57,970 --> 01:16:01,056
My mentality is also affected.
467
01:16:01,181 --> 01:16:04,893
As Pedro said,
I need to gain more experience.
468
01:16:06,270 --> 01:16:09,231
Batters adapt to any
changes pitcher makes.
469
01:16:09,731 --> 01:16:13,610
Since Shohei is the only player
in such a circumstance,
470
01:16:13,819 --> 01:16:17,781
only he knows how being a pitcher
benefits him as a batter.
471
01:16:20,367 --> 01:16:24,621
I've never considered limiting
myself to just one role,
472
01:16:25,205 --> 01:16:28,584
so I'm not sure which approach is better.
473
01:16:28,917 --> 01:16:32,921
But I can say that I always have two
things to think about.
474
01:16:33,505 --> 01:16:35,716
And I simply enjoy that.
475
01:17:24,389 --> 01:17:30,270
Shohei messaged me to see if I would
consider participating in the WBC.
476
01:17:30,395 --> 01:17:37,110
He said he wasn't confident enough
to win the championship without my help.
477
01:17:38,695 --> 01:17:43,659
It's not that I was flattered
by what he said.
478
01:17:44,368 --> 01:17:48,830
Despite his consistent performance,
he's still hungry for more.
479
01:17:49,623 --> 01:17:52,668
The WBC is unrelated
to the regular season.
480
01:17:53,960 --> 01:17:56,380
Just how much does he want to win?
481
01:17:56,463 --> 01:17:58,924
I guess he truly loves it.
482
01:17:59,007 --> 01:18:03,011
I think it was already August
when he reached out to me,
483
01:18:03,887 --> 01:18:06,932
but his hunger for victory
really struck me.
484
01:18:07,015 --> 01:18:09,893
If you play long enough,
485
01:18:10,060 --> 01:18:13,355
that kind of spirit fades away.
486
01:18:13,689 --> 01:18:18,485
You start to see baseball more
from a business perspective.
487
01:18:19,361 --> 01:18:25,784
Even in a contract year, fully aware
of the importance of his health,
488
01:18:26,868 --> 01:18:29,871
he still took the risk of the tournament.
489
01:18:30,038 --> 01:18:35,001
He said he wanted the title
and needed to beat the US team.
490
01:18:35,168 --> 01:18:38,547
He usually doesn't let people know
his emotion,
491
01:18:38,630 --> 01:18:42,175
but his determination
was clear in his messages.
492
01:19:39,065 --> 01:19:45,238
Near the end of the game, I checked
if he still had enough stamina to play.
493
01:19:45,989 --> 01:19:49,117
He gave a vague reply, like "probably".
494
01:19:49,242 --> 01:19:52,996
I knew he meant, "send me out to close".
495
01:20:35,705 --> 01:20:40,126
"World Champion"
496
01:20:53,223 --> 01:20:55,934
We had two outs and no runners on base.
497
01:20:56,059 --> 01:21:00,188
By the time Mike Trout came up to bat,
498
01:21:00,897 --> 01:21:05,485
it felt like the momentum was on our side.
499
01:21:18,707 --> 01:21:22,878
The count was full.
Reflecting on my pitch selection and
500
01:21:23,169 --> 01:21:25,088
how the game had unfolded,
501
01:21:25,505 --> 01:21:27,090
I felt everything was in place.
502
01:21:27,340 --> 01:21:34,306
I sensed that the game was heading
to a close with me striking Mike out.
503
01:22:14,471 --> 01:22:16,181
From this tournament,
504
01:22:16,848 --> 01:22:23,063
it's clear Shohei has now become a figure
even MLB stars look up to.
505
01:22:23,730 --> 01:22:27,776
When I first saw him play in high school,
506
01:22:28,902 --> 01:22:31,780
I instantly noticed that he's special.
507
01:22:31,905 --> 01:22:36,201
The future was in his hands, and
the sky seemed to be his only limit.
508
01:22:36,701 --> 01:22:41,873
My impression began to take shape
during his time with the Fighters.
509
01:22:43,583 --> 01:22:48,672
Now, I feel he's reached a point where his
physical condition is no longer a concern.
510
01:22:49,047 --> 01:22:51,174
I believe he feels the same way.
511
01:22:51,383 --> 01:22:55,011
I'm finally seeing what I had
always believed.
512
01:22:56,596 --> 01:23:02,978
That incredibly talented high schooler
has become a fully-fledged player.
513
01:23:03,061 --> 01:23:04,813
That's my sentiment now.
514
01:23:05,355 --> 01:23:09,651
I don't see myself as having done
any favors for him.
515
01:23:09,734 --> 01:23:13,363
I was just one of the many cogs
in a machine
516
01:23:13,989 --> 01:23:17,617
naturally drawn to support him.
517
01:24:19,262 --> 01:24:22,766
I don't write down my dreams
like I used to.
518
01:24:24,184 --> 01:24:29,481
But writing does help remind you
of things you need to remember,
519
01:24:30,648 --> 01:24:35,153
especially technical details.
When it comes to baseball,
520
01:24:35,528 --> 01:24:41,326
your skills might progress one day
but deteriorate the next.
521
01:24:41,451 --> 01:24:45,163
Just because it worked today
doesn't mean it's right.
522
01:24:45,455 --> 01:24:49,167
So I still keep track
of my technical records.
523
01:24:49,501 --> 01:24:54,089
I find those notes to be very useful
when I want to reflect on myself.
524
01:24:54,172 --> 01:24:59,219
Ideally, basic values shouldn't need
to be written down,
525
01:24:59,302 --> 01:25:02,180
Like making eye contact when greeting.
526
01:25:02,972 --> 01:25:08,978
If you feel it hasn't become a habit
for you yet, I recommend writing it down.
527
01:25:09,312 --> 01:25:13,233
When you look at your note,
it will always remind you to do so.
528
01:25:13,316 --> 01:25:16,069
This is an effective process.
529
01:25:16,152 --> 01:25:21,074
Once that habit becomes a part of you,
you no longer need your notes.
530
01:25:21,658 --> 01:25:26,830
And this is really the ideal outcome
for every process you make.
531
01:25:27,372 --> 01:25:32,377
I have a feeling he still keeps a list
of his current tasks.
532
01:25:32,794 --> 01:25:35,755
He probably wouldn't share it
with anyone now,
533
01:25:35,839 --> 01:25:40,176
but perhaps in 10 years,
he might reveal it to us.
534
01:26:11,791 --> 01:26:17,422
Given Shohei's extraordinary achievements
in baseball
535
01:26:18,089 --> 01:26:23,094
and his relentless dedication to it
even in his daily life,
536
01:26:23,344 --> 01:26:28,433
I doubt there's anyone who can tell him
what he should do.
537
01:26:29,184 --> 01:26:30,727
Perhaps Joe Maddon?
538
01:27:02,050 --> 01:27:04,719
I think what awaits Shohei,
539
01:27:05,470 --> 01:27:08,348
he will figure it out himself naturally.
540
01:27:08,431 --> 01:27:15,438
If he's committing 100% to baseball now,
that's his current priority.
541
01:27:15,980 --> 01:27:17,941
Then someday,
542
01:27:18,942 --> 01:27:25,657
he may look back at his path and
recall these times of full dedication.
543
01:27:28,243 --> 01:27:31,996
If he does, I believe
it's a wonderful thing for him.
544
01:27:32,080 --> 01:27:35,750
There are very few players
who can do the same.
545
01:27:37,502 --> 01:27:43,841
I understand managers have seen
much more of life than we have.
546
01:27:44,133 --> 01:27:49,430
I'm sure they've witnessed many players
burn out along the way.
547
01:27:50,473 --> 01:27:54,936
But Shohei has done something
everyone thought was impossible.
548
01:27:55,061 --> 01:28:01,609
Even if it's Joe Maddon's advice,
Shohei doesn't have to comply.
549
01:28:02,860 --> 01:28:06,281
At this stage in his career,
and if he wants to keep going,
550
01:28:06,906 --> 01:28:10,535
I don't see any reason
to change what he is doing.
551
01:28:14,122 --> 01:28:15,957
That's exactly right.
552
01:28:18,042 --> 01:28:24,424
I do have a vision for my future,
but nothing is set in stone.
553
01:28:27,010 --> 01:28:32,307
Sure, thinking about the future
is important,
554
01:28:32,974 --> 01:28:38,563
but it's a separate matter from
what I should be doing at this moment.
555
01:28:39,522 --> 01:28:46,446
For me, it's all about being all in on
what feels right in my life right now.
556
01:29:20,772 --> 01:29:24,817
Shohei keeps on doing the unexpected.
557
01:29:25,026 --> 01:29:31,783
He's on a path no one's ever been on,
and that's beyond our imagination.
558
01:29:32,533 --> 01:29:38,623
I'm convinced that he's going
to blow us away even more in the future.
559
01:29:39,332 --> 01:29:43,544
Ever since I started playing,
560
01:29:43,628 --> 01:29:47,006
I've just followed a series of steps.
561
01:29:47,590 --> 01:29:52,637
Those little steps simply led
to a much larger goal.
562
01:29:52,720 --> 01:29:56,849
I still have goals and aspirations
that I've yet to achieve.
563
01:29:57,809 --> 01:30:01,562
That's what keeps me moving forward.
564
01:30:02,188 --> 01:30:04,649
He needs to win the World Series.
565
01:30:04,732 --> 01:30:10,613
I've always believed he could round out
as a three-way player with defense.
566
01:30:11,072 --> 01:30:13,866
I totally have faith in him for that.
567
01:30:13,950 --> 01:30:15,076
Yes.
568
01:31:11,007 --> 01:31:13,718
Thank you. There's a message too.
569
01:31:14,802 --> 01:31:18,681
I'll put it up with Matsui-san's ball.
570
01:31:21,726 --> 01:31:26,856
He's not just a top Japanese player,
he's one of the greatest in the MLB.
571
01:31:26,939 --> 01:31:32,945
He brings back the feeling I had
as a child when I watched the top players.
572
01:31:34,030 --> 01:31:40,036
At this point, I'm content with
the decisions I made along the way.
573
01:31:40,995 --> 01:31:42,872
I'm part of a great team,
574
01:31:42,955 --> 01:31:48,044
working together with outstanding players
every day.
575
01:31:48,503 --> 01:31:51,130
But was it the absolute best decision?
576
01:31:52,340 --> 01:31:58,679
Unless I could go back in time
and try out the other options I had,
577
01:31:58,846 --> 01:32:00,890
I'd never know for sure.
578
01:32:01,432 --> 01:32:04,477
I often say this, but
579
01:32:04,560 --> 01:32:09,649
all you can do is trust your past
decisions were the best ones at the time.
580
01:32:09,732 --> 01:32:14,445
That mindset allows me
to truly enjoy the game.
581
01:32:15,196 --> 01:32:18,324
I genuinely believe that.
582
01:32:19,325 --> 01:32:22,203
When it comes to deciding what's the best,
583
01:32:22,286 --> 01:32:29,293
all I know is that whatever I choose
for myself is the right choice for me.
584
01:33:28,728 --> 01:33:31,147
He's pursued his dreams this far,
585
01:33:36,611 --> 01:33:42,283
but I wish to let him know that the future
of baseball now rests on his shoulders.
586
01:33:43,159 --> 01:33:47,913
I know he can take on that mantle.
587
01:33:53,336 --> 01:33:56,464
"World Champion"