It was a few days after pitcher Tetsuya Utsumi (39) won his first victory of the season against DeNA on the 10th. Old-known team members looked as happy as they were. “It was really good. I think everyone involved in the farm was supporting us.” While keeping good performance in the 2nd army, the first promotion of this season is the Giants match on June 3rd. Even though I couldn’t see the future and had anxiety and impatience, the staff sweated from early morning and saw the same appearance.

Suddenly, I remembered the words of the same person two years ago. 19th season off. At that time, the reporter was in charge of the giant, and the topic naturally shifted to the story of Utsumi. “Lions are often young players, but I think they are the best example for young people. People who played an active part in the Giants ace come to the stadium earlier than anyone else and practice silently. Just by looking at them It will be a study, and we will think more and work hard on the practice. “

In the field, Kuriyama and Nakamura of “Mr. Lions” exist as the best examples, but the pitchers are FA such as Wakui (Lotte → Rakuten), Kishi (Rakuten), Nogami (Giant), Makita (Padres → Rakuten). Transferred at. Utsumi’s 18th year of professional experience, skills and language, such as two most wins, have a great influence on the growth of young players, and the person concerned said, “It is very big that there is a target in the team.” I talked to him.

At the Tokyo Dome, the Giants match on the 3rd, which was the first pitching after the transfer. It was a proof that the big applause that fell on him was loved and respected by his fans and friends, regardless of whether he was an enemy or an ally.[Yugun = Kengo Kubo]