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Shohei Ohtani is the only player
in modern MLB history
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with over 10 pitching wins, 40 homers,
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and 15 stolen bases in the same season.
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In the All-Star Game,
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he was the sole player selected as
both a designated hitter and a pitcher.
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His strikeout and home run count surpassed
records set by Babe Ruth
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over 100 years ago.
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This is the story of the most
unique player in baseball history.
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{\an8}Born in 1994,
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{\an8}Shohei Ohtani grew up in a small town
in Iwate, Japan.
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{\an8}No one expected a legend in the making
to come from such a rural area.
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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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This is where his journey began.
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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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As a kid, Shohei watched
Major League Baseball,
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and dreamed of playing there one day.
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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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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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The players in the MLB
were on a different level.
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Watching them on TV and other media,
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Ichiro-san, Matsui-san, before them were
Randy Johnson, Pedro Martínez...
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Barry Bonds, the list goes on,
Ken Griffey Jr. ...
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Even as a child, it was clear to me that
MLB was the place for top-tier baseball.
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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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I'm very flattered.
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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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I'm very happy to hear that.
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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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In the year of 2009,
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Shohei watched Pedro and I
face off in the World Series.
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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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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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Especially since
I was a fan of both players.
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Yes, I saw it.
A home run into the right field.
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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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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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How should I say this?
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They are wonderful parents,
but not my mentors.
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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 in 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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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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Teaching him those important things
had a huge impact on him.
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As a freshman in high school,
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Shohei mapped out his goals
on a "dream board."
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His dream was
to be drafted first by 8 pro teams,
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which he planned to achieve by
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perfecting 8 factors of his game,
each with 8 smaller goals.
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This included physicality,
mentality, luck, control,
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and humanity amongst others.
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This is embarrassing.
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Honestly... that was...
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That was supposed to be something
between just me and myself.
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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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2010? He would have been in high school.
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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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He wrote this in his freshman year?
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I doubt any other players in the league
could come up with a plan like this.
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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.
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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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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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At 6, Shohei wrote that his
favorite sport was baseball.
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His dream job was to be a baseball player.
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And as an adult,
he wanted to be "ordinary."
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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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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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At 18, Shohei was scouted
to be a pitcher in the US.
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However, a pro team in Japan made
an offer that caught his attention.
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He was given the chance to be both
a pitcher and a hitter,
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something that hadn't
been seen in over a century.
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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.
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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 I
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try 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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When I chose to join the MLB, some members
of the ballclub 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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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 results 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.
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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 within me.
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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.
234
00:30:01,633 --> 00:30:05,094
Some said, "Shohei hasn't earned it yet."
235
00:30:05,261 --> 00:30:07,847
But I never saw it that way.
236
00:30:07,931 --> 00:30:09,224
Rather,
237
00:30:09,682 --> 00:30:15,647
I knew the team valued the number.
So, when they passed it to him so soon,
238
00:30:15,814 --> 00:30:21,611
it made me very excited and eager to see
the kind of exceptional player he was.
239
00:30:54,561 --> 00:30:59,816
While people know how hard it is
to become a professional ball player,
240
00:30:59,983 --> 00:31:03,862
Shohei needs to work twice
as much to reach that level.
241
00:31:04,487 --> 00:31:06,281
His ability wasn't the issue.
242
00:31:06,364 --> 00:31:08,908
His body would be
the one to reach its limit.
243
00:31:09,033 --> 00:31:13,204
I had to figure out
how to balance the two.
244
00:31:13,329 --> 00:31:15,832
That was one of the crucial points.
245
00:31:16,040 --> 00:31:18,585
I never told Shohei what he needed to do.
246
00:31:18,668 --> 00:31:22,547
As he kept pushing forward,
I was just there for him,
247
00:31:22,755 --> 00:31:26,634
making sure he had
a clear path to move on.
248
00:31:27,510 --> 00:31:30,805
He was doing his thing.
My job was to back him up.
249
00:31:30,972 --> 00:31:35,810
What he was trying to achieve
wasn't something you can teach.
250
00:31:43,985 --> 00:31:47,864
102.5 mph, a new record!
251
00:32:03,046 --> 00:32:06,591
At the Nippon-Ham Fighters,
252
00:32:07,091 --> 00:32:14,057
Shohei broke the boundaries and records in
hopes of one day making it to the majors.
253
00:32:52,387 --> 00:32:58,017
Maybe he thought he had what it took.
He felt he could pull it off.
254
00:32:59,644 --> 00:33:05,191
But I think he was more driven by the idea
of doing what no one else had.
255
00:33:05,525 --> 00:33:09,362
At least for me,
that would have been the case.
256
00:33:10,780 --> 00:33:13,658
You'll never know until you try.
257
00:33:14,701 --> 00:33:17,495
Going for what nobody's done before...
258
00:33:17,745 --> 00:33:21,791
Maybe 100 years ago, there might've been
players doing both.
259
00:33:22,417 --> 00:33:25,837
But in today's competitive world,
260
00:33:25,962 --> 00:33:29,841
attempting and achieving
what's never been done?
261
00:33:30,800 --> 00:33:36,097
The challenge itself must've been
the biggest drive for him.
262
00:33:36,681 --> 00:33:39,934
Even if you fail,
it's still worth the ride.
263
00:33:41,644 --> 00:33:46,149
After 5, 6, or 7 years,
I was sure he'd be physically ready
264
00:33:46,274 --> 00:33:49,277
to handle this tough challenge.
265
00:33:49,610 --> 00:33:54,032
For that period while he was building up,
he mustn't overdo it.
266
00:33:54,157 --> 00:33:59,203
This was a crucial rule for me,
but Shohei sometimes fought back.
267
00:33:59,328 --> 00:34:03,374
He'd insist on playing,
especially for important games.
268
00:34:03,583 --> 00:34:06,335
We had a lot of
those exchanges over email.
269
00:34:06,502 --> 00:34:10,798
However, it was my role
to stop him when I needed to.
270
00:34:11,591 --> 00:34:13,551
In order to succeed in the MLB,
271
00:34:14,010 --> 00:34:17,013
he had to build
a solid foundation in Japan.
272
00:34:17,138 --> 00:34:20,141
I truly believed that
was his shortest path.
273
00:34:20,349 --> 00:34:25,521
I was sure that Shohei would understand,
and he eventually did.
274
00:34:27,065 --> 00:34:31,486
However, whether my approach
truly succeeded or not,
275
00:34:31,819 --> 00:34:35,615
we'll only know when
Shohei stops playing baseball.
276
00:34:36,115 --> 00:34:41,120
I honestly can't tell
which was the right path to choose.
277
00:34:41,245 --> 00:34:46,959
I believe that going directly to
the US should be a viable option.
278
00:34:47,085 --> 00:34:50,505
I really can't say which is better.
279
00:34:50,922 --> 00:34:54,092
For me, it wasn't much
about staying in Japan,
280
00:34:54,425 --> 00:34:58,888
it was more about the opportunity
to be a two-way player.
281
00:36:01,701 --> 00:36:06,664
Well, when it comes to something
that you really want to achieve,
282
00:36:07,665 --> 00:36:12,044
there would always be some kind
of criticism you need to face.
283
00:36:12,587 --> 00:36:18,050
There would always be an obstacle
that you need to overcome.
284
00:36:19,343 --> 00:36:24,682
At the end of the day,
I know myself better than anyone else,
285
00:36:25,600 --> 00:36:30,146
and no one knows what I'm
striving for better than I do.
286
00:36:30,730 --> 00:36:35,860
I think I'll only be able to
reflect on what I dedicated myself to
287
00:36:36,611 --> 00:36:42,116
at the end of my career, after
giving everything I have as a player.
288
00:36:42,700 --> 00:36:45,745
From what I know of Shohei,
289
00:36:47,288 --> 00:36:52,960
he has always been very sure of himself,
even from a very young age.
290
00:36:53,085 --> 00:36:59,091
I know he's not the kind of person
that would be easily deterred.
291
00:37:13,105 --> 00:37:19,153
The most important factor was how serious
they were about me playing both positions.
292
00:37:20,529 --> 00:37:25,701
Given the limited time and few meetings,
293
00:37:25,868 --> 00:37:30,539
it wasn't really possible
to fully gauge their intentions.
294
00:37:30,831 --> 00:37:35,503
But in the end, I had conversations
with a few teams and decided.
295
00:37:44,720 --> 00:37:50,559
I thought he would end up choosing
either the Rangers or the Padres,
296
00:37:50,643 --> 00:37:54,522
but he surprised everyone
and signed with the Angels.
297
00:37:54,647 --> 00:37:57,441
I never had a chance
to find out his reasons.
298
00:38:18,713 --> 00:38:23,301
To be really honest,
I went with my gut feeling.
299
00:38:23,384 --> 00:38:25,553
When I chose my high school,
300
00:38:26,554 --> 00:38:29,765
when I first decided
to try for the MLB at 18,
301
00:38:30,016 --> 00:38:35,563
and when I ended up with the Fighters,
my decision was made the same way.
302
00:38:36,063 --> 00:38:38,941
In the end, I rely on my intuition.
303
00:38:40,318 --> 00:38:45,740
That might sound arbitrary but it isn't.
304
00:38:47,116 --> 00:38:51,078
For example, if I'm given three options,
305
00:38:52,455 --> 00:38:54,290
I'll look at all three,
306
00:38:54,915 --> 00:39:00,212
and examine every aspect of them
so I can truly understand what I'm given.
307
00:39:00,421 --> 00:39:01,922
But at the end of the day,
308
00:39:02,423 --> 00:39:05,885
I go with what feels right to me.
That's how it works.
309
00:39:06,635 --> 00:39:10,931
It's a little bit difficult to explain.
310
00:39:11,015 --> 00:39:13,642
It's similar to your batting stance.
311
00:39:15,019 --> 00:39:19,357
It's about choosing what matches
the vision of your future self.
312
00:39:19,440 --> 00:39:23,277
When considering what could be
the best decision
313
00:39:23,402 --> 00:39:27,073
for both myself and those around me,
314
00:39:27,615 --> 00:39:30,534
the Angels just seemed
to stand out the most.
315
00:39:30,618 --> 00:39:32,578
That's the main reason.
316
00:39:33,162 --> 00:39:37,291
Of course, there were
the meetings along the way,
317
00:39:38,209 --> 00:39:40,795
I talked to people from various teams.
318
00:39:41,253 --> 00:39:44,256
So I believe my intuition was based on
319
00:39:45,716 --> 00:39:52,390
all of those meetings and conversations
I had prior to making my decision.
320
00:39:52,723 --> 00:39:57,645
Ultimately, it led to my
decision to go with the Angels.
321
00:39:58,229 --> 00:39:59,980
His gut feeling?
322
00:40:01,524 --> 00:40:04,777
I expected a more
specific reason than that,
323
00:40:05,861 --> 00:40:10,282
although going with your gut
doesn't sound bad at all.
324
00:40:10,783 --> 00:40:15,413
It's your life. Relying on
your intuition might work the best.
325
00:41:34,783 --> 00:41:36,452
Starting next year,
326
00:41:37,369 --> 00:41:41,290
I would like to formally announce that...
327
00:41:42,208 --> 00:41:47,296
I plan to go and do my best in the USA.
328
00:41:50,716 --> 00:41:52,968
After 5 years in Japan,
329
00:41:53,594 --> 00:41:58,140
Shohei finally decided to come to the US.
330
00:41:59,934 --> 00:42:02,770
He had chosen the Los Angeles Angels.
331
00:43:10,379 --> 00:43:15,467
The spring training in 2018 was
a disaster. My results were terrible.
332
00:43:16,677 --> 00:43:20,973
But in a way,
that's what I had signed up for.
333
00:43:21,056 --> 00:43:23,726
Time is limited for a pro baseball player.
334
00:43:25,394 --> 00:43:29,273
If I make it to 50,
that would be a miracle in itself.
335
00:43:29,982 --> 00:43:36,572
I want to dedicate my time and push
my limits to see how far I can go.
336
00:43:36,697 --> 00:43:39,575
You could say that it's sort of my hobby.
337
00:43:39,658 --> 00:43:43,704
While I struggled with my hitting,
338
00:43:43,787 --> 00:43:46,290
I was also excited and aspired
to achieve results.
339
00:43:46,457 --> 00:43:49,251
I didn't expect to do
well right off the bat.
340
00:43:49,835 --> 00:43:55,466
That goes for when I entered high school,
or when I started playing professionally.
341
00:43:55,591 --> 00:44:01,805
It almost never went well from the start,
but it was my decision to be there.
342
00:44:02,765 --> 00:44:08,312
The excitement of following my dream
outweighs any of those difficult times.
343
00:45:16,380 --> 00:45:21,427
I felt like I was stuck
during spring training.
344
00:45:22,010 --> 00:45:23,345
How can I say this...
345
00:45:24,138 --> 00:45:29,893
I'm not really the kind of person who
likes to ask other people for their help.
346
00:45:30,644 --> 00:45:34,690
There were moments at camp when
I felt hopeless.
347
00:45:34,773 --> 00:45:39,194
But in the end, I trusted myself
and what I've always done.
348
00:45:39,361 --> 00:45:41,697
It was still spring training,
349
00:45:41,780 --> 00:45:46,076
I had enough time and was
open to making adjustments.
350
00:45:46,201 --> 00:45:50,497
I made big changes in my swing
and tweaked many things.
351
00:45:51,123 --> 00:45:54,001
That's how I've managed to get this far.
352
00:48:13,098 --> 00:48:17,853
We've built a great relationship so far.
353
00:48:17,936 --> 00:48:24,735
We enjoy working together every day.
I'm confident I made the right choice.
354
00:48:25,319 --> 00:48:31,450
I'm very relieved to hear that.
What I constantly tried to tell Shohei,
355
00:48:31,867 --> 00:48:37,164
even when he headed to the US, is that
"What matters is what Shohei decides."
356
00:48:37,456 --> 00:48:42,377
Whatever you decide to do,
the gods of baseball will support you.
357
00:48:43,170 --> 00:48:47,424
I told him not to get caught up in
what others tell him to do.
358
00:48:48,091 --> 00:48:53,013
Looking at him making his own decisions
and trusting in himself,
359
00:48:53,805 --> 00:48:56,892
it genuinely makes me happy.
360
00:49:32,386 --> 00:49:36,056
For rookies or players
with limited MLB experience,
361
00:49:36,306 --> 00:49:39,226
this might seem exaggerated,
362
00:49:39,559 --> 00:49:43,605
but it often feels
like you have no rights.
363
00:49:43,730 --> 00:49:47,526
People will nitpick everything you do.
364
00:49:47,818 --> 00:49:50,862
All I wanted was to play baseball here,
365
00:49:51,947 --> 00:49:55,867
so I had a tough time
understanding that mentality.
366
00:51:06,271 --> 00:51:11,860
I had put in my time with the Fighters.
I developed my own routine and style,
367
00:51:11,985 --> 00:51:16,114
and I believe it was on that basis
I was signed on.
368
00:51:16,698 --> 00:51:21,286
Yet, back then, I often got
laughed at when I did things my way.
369
00:51:22,496 --> 00:51:24,456
It was a tough time for me.
370
00:51:25,832 --> 00:51:32,714
The MLB has made big changes since then.
Today's clubhouse has a different energy.
371
00:51:32,839 --> 00:51:37,010
But those first few years were
a real struggle for me.
372
00:51:37,552 --> 00:51:41,348
There were many times
I wanted to return to the Fighters.
373
00:52:35,944 --> 00:52:40,657
In my case...
I haven't been through it myself.
374
00:52:40,740 --> 00:52:44,953
I've never played for another MLB team,
so I can't say for sure.
375
00:52:45,871 --> 00:52:51,543
But you do hear rumors,
and you take those in as information.
376
00:52:52,043 --> 00:52:56,631
Because you're a rookie or Asian,
things can unfold in certain ways.
377
00:52:57,716 --> 00:53:03,346
Since I tend to inflate my
assumptions negatively
378
00:53:03,471 --> 00:53:08,602
and often expect the worst,
that was what I was prepared for.
379
00:53:10,312 --> 00:53:15,275
But that wasn't the case.
They were all really nice people.
380
00:53:16,026 --> 00:53:18,361
It's true, how do I put it...
381
00:53:18,904 --> 00:53:22,240
Everyone is very easy to work with.
382
00:53:22,490 --> 00:53:25,202
I've never had any negative feelings
383
00:53:26,328 --> 00:53:29,039
when it comes to relationships.
384
00:53:29,122 --> 00:53:33,668
I'm definitely lucky.
I find it a very good environment for me.
385
00:53:33,835 --> 00:53:38,173
There have been tough times,
including injuries,
386
00:53:38,506 --> 00:53:44,763
but I'm very happy being able
to come this far as a part of this team.
387
00:54:45,407 --> 00:54:50,662
Fortunately, I haven't really
encountered those kind of issues.
388
00:54:50,787 --> 00:54:55,709
I had a different outlook.
I expected I'd be dealing with a lot more.
389
00:54:57,460 --> 00:55:02,007
Especially among Angels fans,
there's a homey vibe.
390
00:55:02,090 --> 00:55:07,846
They made me feel very welcomed
and supported me a lot.
391
00:55:08,972 --> 00:55:14,352
That's one of the reasons why
I was able to focus on my performance.
392
00:55:14,436 --> 00:55:19,274
I consider myself very lucky
and thankful for my situation.
393
00:55:19,858 --> 00:55:24,404
I am surrounded by
an incredible support group.
394
00:55:24,487 --> 00:55:29,701
Having Ippei-san help with
the translation has been a big asset.
395
00:55:29,784 --> 00:55:31,202
I consider his presence crucial.
396
00:55:31,286 --> 00:55:38,043
You never know when a statement
might be received differently.
397
00:55:38,501 --> 00:55:40,378
For example, when it comes to jokes.
398
00:55:40,462 --> 00:55:44,341
They can easily backfire
due to misinterpretation.
399
00:55:44,466 --> 00:55:50,972
He's very good at capturing nuances
when he translates for me.
400
00:55:51,056 --> 00:55:54,642
That has been definitely a huge help.
401
00:55:55,143 --> 00:56:00,565
By the time Shohei came in 2018, things
had greatly improved in every team.
402
00:56:00,815 --> 00:56:05,362
There was an ethical shift towards
accepting one another.
403
00:56:05,737 --> 00:56:11,284
So I can't really say if he had
a similar experience as mine.
404
00:56:11,701 --> 00:56:15,830
But in Shohei's case,
I am sure he had his rough time.
405
00:56:15,955 --> 00:56:19,250
His injury in the midst of
all that media attention
406
00:56:19,334 --> 00:56:23,004
mustn't have been easy for him.
407
00:56:45,026 --> 00:56:50,448
Even then, Shohei's path in the major
was filled with twists and turns.
408
00:59:01,663 --> 00:59:07,919
After the Tommy John surgery in 2019,
the following year was also a struggle.
409
00:59:08,086 --> 00:59:12,549
I didn't feel that
I was recovering how I should.
410
00:59:13,341 --> 00:59:15,093
I started to doubt.
411
00:59:16,052 --> 00:59:22,725
I thought it might be better to focus
on one position to obtain results.
412
00:59:23,059 --> 00:59:29,399
That was the time when I honestly
considered dropping the two-way path.
413
01:00:03,099 --> 01:00:06,603
There's one thing
I didn't get the chance to ask Joe.
414
01:00:07,312 --> 01:00:13,484
Back in spring training in 2021,
I was called into the manager's office.
415
01:00:14,944 --> 01:00:18,364
I was told there would be
no more rules for me, and
416
01:00:18,615 --> 01:00:22,285
they'd play me without
any restrictions that season.
417
01:00:22,577 --> 01:00:28,249
Joe was there along with
our GM, Perry Minasian.
418
01:00:30,084 --> 01:00:33,421
When I first heard them tell me that,
419
01:00:34,505 --> 01:00:36,549
how do I put this?
420
01:00:36,674 --> 01:00:40,970
I sort of figured they were
giving me an ultimatum.
421
01:00:41,095 --> 01:00:46,768
That this might be my last chance
to prove I could play two-way.
422
01:00:47,810 --> 01:00:53,358
At least that's how I took
the conversation we had in that room.
423
01:00:55,026 --> 01:01:01,366
Obviously, I can't be sure what was
on their minds.
424
01:01:02,617 --> 01:01:05,620
Maybe they meant
"We are counting on you," or
425
01:01:06,412 --> 01:01:10,166
it could've been a final warning.
426
01:01:11,167 --> 01:01:17,298
As a player, that's not something
you can ask the manager about.
427
01:01:17,423 --> 01:01:20,426
But now that he's not in charge anymore,
428
01:01:21,928 --> 01:01:26,099
perhaps this is an occasion
for me to approach him directly.
429
01:02:10,893 --> 01:02:13,146
I'm glad to hear that.
430
01:02:13,312 --> 01:02:18,609
So there wasn't any underlying meaning
to what they told me.
431
01:02:19,485 --> 01:02:22,739
I misunderstood their intentions.
432
01:02:22,864 --> 01:02:28,870
However, I think that extra pressure
actually helped me to perform better.
433
01:02:29,203 --> 01:02:35,042
I was really disappointed with my
performance in the 2019 and 2020 seasons.
434
01:02:35,710 --> 01:02:42,133
I could understand if they felt
things weren't going as they had hoped.
435
01:02:43,176 --> 01:02:49,056
So, I entered spring training
in 2021 with a strong determination.
436
01:02:49,640 --> 01:02:55,104
Turns out the management
had faith in me just as they said.
437
01:02:56,647 --> 01:03:01,360
Wanting to meet those expectations,
I had a great season.
438
01:03:01,652 --> 01:03:06,949
I think it worked out for the better
that I misunderstood their words.
439
01:04:32,118 --> 01:04:33,536
If you ask me,
440
01:04:33,703 --> 01:04:37,999
from the perspective of the manager,
441
01:04:39,500 --> 01:04:46,424
for better or worse, I'm just
one piece for him to use in the game.
442
01:04:49,719 --> 01:04:54,098
That's merely a
simplified way to look at it.
443
01:04:55,308 --> 01:05:00,521
With 30 teams in the league, there are
only 30 managerial positions,
444
01:05:01,188 --> 01:05:04,108
while there are many players out there.
445
01:05:04,984 --> 01:05:07,778
When it comes to strategy,
446
01:05:07,904 --> 01:05:14,035
or perhaps the ability to lead a team,
the managers look at the big picture.
447
01:05:14,577 --> 01:05:19,457
Their impact on the team is far greater
than any individual player.
448
01:05:20,082 --> 01:05:24,420
I'm sure that's something I can't handle,
449
01:05:24,545 --> 01:05:28,633
and I find their role
absolutely remarkable.
450
01:05:28,799 --> 01:05:33,012
It's not just a matter of respect,
it's more than that.
451
01:05:33,596 --> 01:05:37,683
They're extraordinary.
There's so much to learn from them.
452
01:05:39,518 --> 01:05:41,938
At least, that's how I see it.
453
01:07:31,630 --> 01:07:37,636
I agree. That's the fundamental
reason why I play baseball.
454
01:07:39,055 --> 01:07:41,098
When it comes down to it,
455
01:07:41,307 --> 01:07:44,018
baseball is...
456
01:07:44,185 --> 01:07:47,938
Even though baseball is my profession,
457
01:07:49,065 --> 01:07:54,070
that's not all it is to me.
It's more than a career.
458
01:07:54,570 --> 01:08:00,701
Whether it's playing catch or
hitting a pitch, it's what I love to do.
459
01:08:01,327 --> 01:08:04,997
My love for the sport is what
has driven me to this point.
460
01:08:05,581 --> 01:08:11,712
Baseball has given me a purpose.
It's become a way of life.
461
01:08:12,171 --> 01:08:16,425
And this sentiment largely
defines who I am today.
462
01:08:18,594 --> 01:08:20,387
To be honest,
463
01:08:20,930 --> 01:08:26,519
I don't really know what kind
of influence I have on other people,
464
01:08:28,062 --> 01:08:31,732
but I hope it's positive in some way.
465
01:08:33,776 --> 01:08:39,657
That would be the reason enough
to keep doing what I do right now.
466
01:09:36,046 --> 01:09:38,424
I see it differently.
467
01:09:40,801 --> 01:09:43,971
He's achieved something no one else has.
468
01:09:46,557 --> 01:09:48,184
How should I put it?
469
01:09:48,601 --> 01:09:53,105
Calling him a "seeker of baseball"
might not be quite right,
470
01:09:53,564 --> 01:09:59,570
but I believe the journey he's on
will inspire future generations.
471
01:09:59,778 --> 01:10:04,033
Sorry, Shohei, but keep pushing forward.
That's my genuine wish.
472
01:10:05,910 --> 01:10:09,205
When he and I trained together,
473
01:10:12,166 --> 01:10:14,543
I ended up learning a lot from him.
474
01:10:14,668 --> 01:10:21,258
The speed at which he improved was on
a different level from anyone else.
475
01:10:23,761 --> 01:10:25,554
Looking back now,
476
01:10:26,138 --> 01:10:33,145
I've never encountered another athlete who
is already outstanding yet aims higher.
477
01:10:33,270 --> 01:10:39,777
I'm very grateful to have shared such
an experience with him.
478
01:10:39,902 --> 01:10:42,154
It was a privilege.
479
01:10:44,615 --> 01:10:50,454
We won't truly understand
the extent of his success until he's done.
480
01:10:50,579 --> 01:10:52,414
Everything looks great now,
481
01:10:52,706 --> 01:10:53,707
but at times,
482
01:10:54,959 --> 01:10:58,879
I question whether I really
made the right choices.
483
01:11:02,841 --> 01:11:07,846
All I can say is,
I believe I've made the right choices.
484
01:11:07,972 --> 01:11:10,015
Once you make a decision,
485
01:11:11,433 --> 01:11:17,564
it sets you on a unique path,
which leads you to a distinct experience.
486
01:11:17,731 --> 01:11:24,405
And you can never compare it
to what other options might have brought.
487
01:11:24,780 --> 01:11:27,616
You've only got one path to take.
488
01:11:28,742 --> 01:11:33,122
I've had bad seasons. I was injured.
489
01:11:34,123 --> 01:11:39,545
But looking back at everything,
I'm happy with the choices I made.
490
01:11:39,712 --> 01:11:41,171
As for the future,
491
01:11:42,006 --> 01:11:44,758
whenever I make a decision,
492
01:11:44,883 --> 01:11:51,140
I'll reflect on it and believe it was
the right call, and work to make it true.
493
01:11:54,852 --> 01:12:00,024
Despite all of the hardships,
Shohei persevered.
494
01:13:08,717 --> 01:13:15,391
In 2021, he unanimously won
the American League MVP award.
495
01:13:15,599 --> 01:13:19,603
The following year, he was runner-up.
496
01:13:19,728 --> 01:13:24,650
He became one of the best players
in all of the MLB.
497
01:13:55,389 --> 01:14:00,519
Shohei isn't afraid of
challenging himself in a way I can't.
498
01:14:02,146 --> 01:14:06,233
I recognize that and see it
as a quality I wish I had.
499
01:14:07,317 --> 01:14:13,323
I've never faced him in a game, but
I'm eager to know what it would be like.
500
01:14:14,491 --> 01:14:19,496
I wonder how I would react
once I step into the batter's box.
501
01:14:19,621 --> 01:14:23,041
I'm really looking forward to that moment.
502
01:14:24,126 --> 01:14:30,382
I get anxious when I struggle throwing
strikes and keep pitching balls.
503
01:14:31,717 --> 01:14:36,263
I don't know if Shohei feels
the same anxiety in those situations,
504
01:14:36,430 --> 01:14:40,476
but he pitches as if
he's totally unbothered.
505
01:15:26,188 --> 01:15:32,945
Simply put, I imagine what would
throw me off if I was the pitcher.
506
01:15:33,070 --> 01:15:39,034
When I'm pitching, it's the opposite.
I do what would bother me as a batter.
507
01:15:39,409 --> 01:15:44,248
I think that's probably a different
approach from other players.
508
01:15:44,373 --> 01:15:50,295
But I still need more experience.
Things have changed since my first year.
509
01:15:51,380 --> 01:15:57,719
My pitching varies based on who
the batter is and which team he's from.
510
01:15:57,886 --> 01:16:00,973
My mentality is also affected.
511
01:16:01,098 --> 01:16:04,810
As Pedro said,
I need to gain more experience.
512
01:16:05,769 --> 01:16:09,189
Batters adapt to any
changes pitcher makes.
513
01:16:09,731 --> 01:16:13,527
Since Shohei is the only player
in such a circumstance,
514
01:16:13,735 --> 01:16:17,698
only he knows how being a pitcher
benefits him as a batter.
515
01:16:20,284 --> 01:16:24,538
I've never considered limiting
myself to just one role,
516
01:16:25,122 --> 01:16:28,500
so I'm not sure which approach is better.
517
01:16:28,834 --> 01:16:32,838
But I can say that I always have two
things to think about.
518
01:16:33,422 --> 01:16:35,716
And I simply enjoy that.
519
01:16:38,343 --> 01:16:44,141
In 2023, Shohei wrote
a new chapter in his story.
520
01:17:24,389 --> 01:17:30,187
Shohei messaged me to see if I would
consider participating in the WBC.
521
01:17:30,312 --> 01:17:37,027
He said he wasn't confident enough
to win the championship without my help.
522
01:17:38,612 --> 01:17:43,575
It's not that I was flattered
by what he said.
523
01:17:44,284 --> 01:17:48,830
Despite his consistent performance,
he's still hungry for more.
524
01:17:49,539 --> 01:17:52,668
The WBC is unrelated to
the regular season.
525
01:17:53,877 --> 01:17:56,296
Just how much does he want to win?
526
01:17:56,421 --> 01:17:58,799
I guess he truly loves it.
527
01:17:58,924 --> 01:18:02,928
I think it was already
August when he reached out to me,
528
01:18:03,845 --> 01:18:06,807
but his hunger
for victory really struck me.
529
01:18:06,932 --> 01:18:09,810
If you play long enough,
530
01:18:09,976 --> 01:18:13,271
that kind of spirit fades away.
531
01:18:13,605 --> 01:18:18,402
You start to see baseball more
from a business perspective.
532
01:18:19,277 --> 01:18:25,701
Even in a contract year, fully aware
of the importance of his health,
533
01:18:26,785 --> 01:18:29,788
he still took the risk of the tournament.
534
01:18:29,955 --> 01:18:34,918
He said he wanted the title
and needed to beat the US team.
535
01:18:35,085 --> 01:18:38,547
He usually doesn't let
people know his emotion,
536
01:18:38,630 --> 01:18:42,092
but his determination
was clear in his messages.
537
01:19:39,065 --> 01:19:45,155
Near the end of the game, I checked
if he still had enough stamina to play.
538
01:19:45,906 --> 01:19:49,034
He gave a vague reply, like "Probably."
539
01:19:49,159 --> 01:19:52,913
I knew he meant, "Send me out to close."
540
01:20:35,622 --> 01:20:40,126
WORLD CHAMPION
541
01:20:53,139 --> 01:20:55,851
We had two outs and no runners on base.
542
01:20:55,976 --> 01:21:00,105
By the time Mike Trout came up to bat,
543
01:21:00,814 --> 01:21:05,485
it felt like the momentum was on our side.
544
01:21:18,623 --> 01:21:19,708
The count was full.
545
01:21:19,791 --> 01:21:25,005
Reflecting on my pitch selection and
how the game had unfolded,
546
01:21:25,422 --> 01:21:27,007
I felt everything was in place.
547
01:21:27,340 --> 01:21:34,306
I sensed that the game was heading
to a close with me striking Mike out.
548
01:22:14,429 --> 01:22:16,097
From this tournament,
549
01:22:16,765 --> 01:22:23,063
it's clear Shohei has now become a figure
even MLB stars look up to.
550
01:22:23,647 --> 01:22:27,692
When I first saw him play in high school,
551
01:22:28,818 --> 01:22:31,696
I instantly noticed that he was special.
552
01:22:31,821 --> 01:22:36,159
The future was in his hands, and
the sky seemed to be his only limit.
553
01:22:36,701 --> 01:22:41,790
My impression began to take shape during
his time with the Fighters.
554
01:22:43,500 --> 01:22:48,588
Now, I feel he's reached a point where his
physical condition is no longer a concern.
555
01:22:48,964 --> 01:22:51,091
I believe he feels the same way.
556
01:22:51,299 --> 01:22:54,928
I'm finally seeing what I had
always believed.
557
01:22:56,596 --> 01:23:02,894
That incredibly talented high schooler
has become a fully-fledged player.
558
01:23:03,019 --> 01:23:04,854
That's my sentiment now.
559
01:23:05,355 --> 01:23:09,234
I don't see myself as having done
any favors for him.
560
01:23:09,734 --> 01:23:13,238
I was just one of the many cogs
561
01:23:13,321 --> 01:23:17,659
in a machine
naturally drawn to support him.
562
01:23:48,023 --> 01:23:49,649
At the WBC,
563
01:23:49,774 --> 01:23:55,321
Shohei finally became
a world champion baseball player.
564
01:24:07,834 --> 01:24:10,253
Now that he has won the WBC,
565
01:24:11,171 --> 01:24:14,632
is he still writing down his dreams?
566
01:24:19,179 --> 01:24:22,932
I don't write down my dreams
like I used to.
567
01:24:24,184 --> 01:24:29,397
But writing does help remind you
of things you need to remember,
568
01:24:30,565 --> 01:24:32,192
especially technical details.
569
01:24:32,275 --> 01:24:35,070
When it comes to baseball,
570
01:24:35,445 --> 01:24:41,242
your skills might progress one day
but deteriorate the next.
571
01:24:41,367 --> 01:24:45,163
Just because it worked today
doesn't mean it's right.
572
01:24:45,455 --> 01:24:49,125
So I still keep track
of my technical records.
573
01:24:49,501 --> 01:24:54,089
I find those notes to be very useful
when I want to reflect on myself.
574
01:24:54,172 --> 01:24:59,135
Ideally, basic values shouldn't need
to be written down,
575
01:24:59,302 --> 01:25:02,514
Like making eye contact when greeting.
576
01:25:03,014 --> 01:25:09,104
If you feel it hasn't become a habit
for you yet, I recommend writing it down.
577
01:25:09,354 --> 01:25:13,191
When you look at your note,
it will always remind you to do so.
578
01:25:13,316 --> 01:25:16,069
This is an effective process.
579
01:25:16,194 --> 01:25:21,282
Once that habit becomes a part of you,
you no longer need your notes.
580
01:25:21,658 --> 01:25:26,788
And this is really the ideal outcome
for every process you make.
581
01:25:27,372 --> 01:25:32,544
I have a feeling he still keeps a list
of his current tasks.
582
01:25:32,710 --> 01:25:35,755
He probably wouldn't share
it with anyone now,
583
01:25:35,839 --> 01:25:40,009
but perhaps in 10 years,
he might reveal it to us.
584
01:25:41,136 --> 01:25:44,931
At 18, Shohei wrote,
585
01:25:45,640 --> 01:25:50,687
"Life doesn't make dreams,
dream makes life."
586
01:25:51,229 --> 01:25:53,606
"My life is for baseball."
587
01:26:11,708 --> 01:26:17,297
Given Shohei's
extraordinary achievements in baseball
588
01:26:18,131 --> 01:26:23,136
and his relentless dedication to it
even in his daily life,
589
01:26:23,344 --> 01:26:28,516
I doubt there's anyone who can
tell him what he should do.
590
01:26:29,225 --> 01:26:30,810
Perhaps Joe Maddon?
591
01:27:02,050 --> 01:27:04,844
I think what awaits Shohei,
592
01:27:05,470 --> 01:27:07,931
he will figure it out himself naturally.
593
01:27:08,431 --> 01:27:12,852
If he's committing 100% to baseball now,
594
01:27:12,936 --> 01:27:15,647
that's his current priority.
595
01:27:15,980 --> 01:27:17,982
Then someday,
596
01:27:18,942 --> 01:27:25,573
he may look back at his path and
recall these times of full dedication.
597
01:27:28,243 --> 01:27:31,913
If he does, I believe it's
a wonderful thing for him.
598
01:27:32,080 --> 01:27:35,792
There are very few
players who can do the same.
599
01:27:37,543 --> 01:27:43,758
I understand managers have
seen much more of life than we have.
600
01:27:44,133 --> 01:27:49,430
I'm sure they've witnessed many players
burn out along the way.
601
01:27:50,473 --> 01:27:54,936
But Shohei has done something
everyone thought was impossible.
602
01:27:55,103 --> 01:28:01,693
Even if it's Joe Maddon's advice,
Shohei doesn't have to comply.
603
01:28:02,860 --> 01:28:06,406
At this stage in his career,
and if he wants to keep going,
604
01:28:06,906 --> 01:28:10,535
I don't see any reason
to change what he is doing.
605
01:28:14,122 --> 01:28:16,332
That's exactly right.
606
01:28:18,042 --> 01:28:24,590
I do have a vision for my future,
but nothing is set in stone.
607
01:28:27,010 --> 01:28:32,307
Sure, thinking about the
future is important,
608
01:28:32,974 --> 01:28:38,479
but it's a separate matter from
what I should be doing at this moment.
609
01:28:38,938 --> 01:28:42,233
For me, it's all about being all in on
610
01:28:42,317 --> 01:28:46,487
what feels right in my life right now.
611
01:29:20,688 --> 01:29:24,817
Shohei keeps on doing the unexpected.
612
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.
613
01:29:32,533 --> 01:29:38,539
I'm convinced that he's going to
blow us away even more in the future.
614
01:29:39,332 --> 01:29:43,461
Ever since I started playing,
615
01:29:43,544 --> 01:29:47,090
I've just followed a series of steps.
616
01:29:47,590 --> 01:29:52,637
Those little steps simply led
to a much larger goal.
617
01:29:52,720 --> 01:29:56,766
I still have goals and aspirations
that I've yet to achieve.
618
01:29:57,725 --> 01:30:01,479
That's what keeps me moving forward.
619
01:30:02,188 --> 01:30:04,565
He needs to win the World Series.
620
01:30:04,690 --> 01:30:10,530
I've always believed he could round out as
a three-way player with defense.
621
01:30:11,072 --> 01:30:13,783
I totally have faith in him for that.
622
01:31:11,007 --> 01:31:13,634
Thank you. There's a message too.
623
01:31:14,802 --> 01:31:18,598
I'll put it up with Matsui-san's ball.
624
01:31:21,726 --> 01:31:26,772
He's not just a top Japanese player,
he's one of the greatest in the MLB.
625
01:31:26,939 --> 01:31:32,862
He brings back the feeling I had as
a child when I watched the top players.
626
01:31:34,030 --> 01:31:40,036
At this point, I'm content with the
decisions I made along the way.
627
01:31:40,620 --> 01:31:45,082
I'm part of a great team, working together
628
01:31:45,166 --> 01:31:47,960
with outstanding players every day.
629
01:31:48,503 --> 01:31:51,088
But was it the absolute best decision?
630
01:31:52,340 --> 01:31:58,596
Unless I could go back in time
and try out the other options I had,
631
01:31:58,846 --> 01:32:00,806
I'd never know for sure.
632
01:32:01,432 --> 01:32:04,352
I often say this, but
633
01:32:04,519 --> 01:32:09,649
all you can do is trust your past
decisions were the best ones at the time.
634
01:32:09,732 --> 01:32:14,362
That mindset allows me
to truly enjoy the game.
635
01:32:15,196 --> 01:32:18,241
I genuinely believe that.
636
01:32:19,283 --> 01:32:22,161
When it comes to deciding what's the best,
637
01:32:22,286 --> 01:32:29,210
all I know is that whatever I choose
for myself is the right choice for me.
638
01:33:28,769 --> 01:33:31,147
He's pursued his dreams this far,
639
01:33:36,527 --> 01:33:42,199
but I wish to let him know that the future
of baseball now rests on his shoulders.
640
01:33:43,159 --> 01:33:47,830
I know he can take on that mantle.
641
01:33:53,336 --> 01:33:56,631
WORLD CHAMPION
642
01:39:10,611 --> 01:39:12,613
Translated by Eika