There are two Japanese fastball pitchers in the minor leagues, Roki Sasaki and Shintaro Fujinami, and we want to look at their past and future by comparing Roki Sasaki and Shintaro Fujinami.
NHK, Japan's public broadcaster, aired a documentary on how Sasaki, who had been considered by most major league teams, finally decided to join the Dodgers.Sasaki carefully checked off all the boxes for each team in the detailed checklist.The way he did this would silence those who advocated the theory of a secret agreement.
During the program, Sasaki also mentioned why he decided to go to the U.S. at the age of 23, when he could not sign a major league contract.He actually injured his arm in spring camp right after graduating from high school.He separated his right elbow while pitching in a sheet hitting session.He rehabbed it, but it did not heal well, and because of that he was unable to pitch his first year. Although he was able to throw a fastball at a young age, he had to contend with the fear of injury and the uncertainty of not knowing when he would be unable to throw, and after this experience, he decided that it would be best for him to try the majors now and grow up, rather than wait until he was 25 years old and not knowing what would happen in the future.
Sasaki's elbow pain was caused by a condition in his shoulder area that led to increased nerve tension and pain on the inside of his elbow. Shintaro Fujinami spent last season in the minors with the same shoulder injury.
Like Sasaki, he has a fastball that tops out at over 100 miles per hour, and he, too, was constantly worried that adrenaline would throw him off his limit and destroy his body when he threw his ridiculously fast pitches.In fact, he threw 104.4 miles per hour during his Hanshin days. Because the speed suddenly appeared during a relief appearance, it was judged to be a mechanical miscalculation, and although it is not recorded, another meter owned by the baseball team showed the same number.藤浪晋太郎165キロ計測で思い出した「幻の札幌168キロ事件」裏話「実はトラックマンで…」 - ＭＬＢ : 日刊スポーツ
Fujinami joined the Hanshin Tigers after graduating from high school, where he pitched excessively under the team's direction for three years. Fujinami struck out 138 IP and 126 strikeouts at the age of 19, 163 IP and 172 strikeouts at the age of 20, 199 IP and 221 strikeouts at the age of 21,and he took the title of strikeout. He hurt his shoulder due to fatigue, but he was a popular pitcher, so Hanshin made him throw 169 times the following year. The pain in his shoulder would haunt him for the rest of his life.
It hurt, but I could throw....It just didn't feel right at the beginning of catching the ball, and when my shoulder warmed up, I could throw.It got a little worse last year.
To be honest, I didn't think it was at a great level in my mind, but in the majors, the rehab plan is strictly defined, so I reevaluated all of my shoulder workouts and my shoulder got a lot better.When I rehabbed and started catching again, there was no pain at all.The pain that had been bothering me for years was gone.【独占激白】藤浪晋太郎明かす喜び「今は何年も悩んだ右肩の痛みがない」１冊の本も転機に／後編 - ＭＬＢ : 日刊スポーツ
In fact, he had been suffering from shoulder problems for more than eight years.If he had been watched carefully by the team, as Sasaki was, he would not have developed shoulder pain due to fatigue from overthrowing, and he would not have been convinced that shoulder pain was no big deal. His misfortune is that he was able to pitch despite such discomfort. The fact that he was able to pitch the fastest pitch in Japan despite the discomfort in his shoulder is astonishing.
Sasaki has been carefully watched and nurtured by the Lotte baseball team as he developed his skills, and has been able to accumulate a brilliant career that includes a perfect game.The Dodgers fully understand that he is still young, still developing, and should not be pushed too hard.The Japanese side that sent him to the Dodgers is not expecting immediate tangible results, but is waiting for him to blossom.On the other hand, Fujinami will be 31 years old on his birthday in April, and finally free of his long-standing shoulder problems, this season will be a season for him to actively regain what he has lost so far.
His number has been set at 13. In China, 13 is said to mean rebirth. We were also told that 13 is a number associated with St. Anthony de Padua. St. Anthony de Padua is said to be the patron saint of regaining what has been lost and also protects those who travel. It is a perfect number for Fujinami as he tries to regain his lost major league registration by crossing the ocean to become a member of the Mariners. We look forward to Fujinami's success in regaining what he has lost over the years.
