In 2021, we will publish the 5 most popular articles on NumberWeb. Click here for the first place in the retirement / memorial category! (First published on September 9, 2021).
I wonder if it’s the first time I’ve seen a baseball player crying and defending since Kazuhiro Kiyohara in the Japan Series, even though the match hasn’t ended nine times. The reason for the tears Kiyohara showed at that time was a sense of accomplishment (strictly just before the achievement) that defeated his favorite giant in the draft, and also a feeling of youth.
On September 5, Yota Kyoda of Chunichi was also crying in a short position. The background was understood by most fans at the stand.
“I’m older, but I joined Kinoshita-san at the same time, and I’ve had a family relationship with him. He’s a really irreplaceable friend.”
The match against DeNA (Vantelin Dome) on that day was a memorial match for Yusuke Kinoshita, who died on August 3. Kyoda, who was second in the draft, and Kinoshita, who was the right-hand man in the first place in training. The position and the life I’ve been walking through were different, but I was able to get to know them immediately. Kyoda shined as a rookie king, and Mr. Kinoshita was also evaluated for his speed ball and won the registration under control.
September 5th is the anniversary of Mr. Kinoshita’s first save a year ago. In March of this year, he dislocated his right shoulder while he was pitching, and although he had surgery, he overcame rehabilitation and was looking forward to the day when he would return to the mound of the army. No way, the first and last save …
Imanaga, the starting lineup for DeNA, is in the same grade as Mr. Kinoshita and Komazawa University.
Coincidentally, Shota Imanaga, the starting pitcher of DeNA on the day, was in the same grade as Mr. Kinoshita at Komazawa University (Mr. Kinoshita dropped out). The catcher Yasutaka Tobashira was also a fourth grader at the time. It was natural that all the Dragons wore a mourning badge and fought in a special uniform with Kinoshita’s uniform number “98”, but that feeling was transmitted beyond the boundaries of the team. In response to Yasuaki Yamasaki’s call, “A baseball player who lived in the same era. There should be something he can do,” the BayStars player also wrote “98” on his hat and went to the match.
