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| Fujinami took the mound for the first time after moving to the second-tier game against Chiba Lotte on the 26th, overpowering three batters with five pitches in the first inning. No hit and no run in one inning. Photo capture = Yokohama BayStars SNS |
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| Yokohama club SNS announcing Fujinami's joining. Photo capture = Yokohama BayStars SNS |
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| Fujinami, once called Ohtani's rival, tried unsuccessfully to advance to the major leagues from Seattle's minor leagues. He returned to Japan after three seasons. Photo capture = Yokohama BayStars SNS |
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"I've never seen anything like this before."
This is what an official of the Yokohama BayStars said in an interview with Japanese media about the second-tier game against the Chiba Lotte Marines on the 26th.
Right-hander Fujinami Shintaro (31), who returned to Japan for the first time in three years, brought spectators to the BayStars' second-tier stadium, Yokosuka Stadium. Japanese media reported that more than 2,000 spectators entered the game an hour before the start of the game, when Fujinami took his first appearance as a member of Yokohama. It's a night game that started at 6 p.m., and there's a line in front of the ticket sales office around 1 p.m. Long lines continued even after the game began.
Nikkan Sports, a sports magazine, wrote that more than 3,300 fans filled the stands at around 7 p.m. Yokohama even opened the right outfield stands, which was not open.
If a star player comes out, interest in the second-tier game will also increase. It was the same when Yokohama franchise star Yoshitomo Tsutsugo (34), a former home run king, returned to the Major League after failing to challenge himself. It was similar when right-hander Trevor Bauer (34), the winner of the Cy Young Award, took the mound. Fujinami was bitter, and it was hotter than Bauer. 2,950 people visited Tsutsugo Stadium and 2,680 people visited Bauer Stadium.
After starting, Jinami met the fans' expectations. He overpowered three batters with five pitches in the first inning. The first pitch to Koshiro Wada, No. 1, hit 152 km/h. He entered the low course strike zone on the left-handed batter's body. He made 2S with a splitter and threw another splitter to catch the first batter with a fly ball to left field.
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| Cuba infielder Vissiedo hit 1,000 hits in nine seasons for Chunichi until last year. He left Japan because he failed to renew his contract and was called by Yokohama. Photo capture = Yokohama BayStars SNS |
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| Bissiedo started his 10th season in Japan as a member of Yokohama. Photo capture = Yokohama BayStars SNS |
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| Even when he returned to the city nine months after leaving Japan. While playing in the Mexican league, he was called by Yokohama. even during the Chunichi era. Kyodo News |
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He then treated Toshiya Sato with a fly ball to left field and Tsuyoshi Tanimura with a fly ball to right field. The two players responded to the first pitch in a row. He beat Sato with a fastball of 154 kilometers per hour and Tanimura with a fastball of 156 kilometers per hour. All five pitches dug into the strike zone. I couldn't find any control difficulties in the major leagues that gave him a hard time. No hit and no run in one inning. Fujinami participated in first-team training on the 24th and played 40 bullpen pitching and came out on his return.
After taking the mound for the first time in about a month and a half, Hu Jinami "I was able to throw in better condition than I thought. I keep training, so I have no problem with my physical condition. He is healthy without pain.' Fujinami pitched in Japan 1017 days after taking the mound in Game 2 of the Climax Series Final Stage against Yakult Swallows on October 13, 2022 as a member of Hanshin.
Fujinami, as is widely known, was once called a rival of Shohei Ohtani (LA Dodgers). Like Ohtani, he joined the Hanshin Tigers as a first name in 2013 and played as a main pitcher. Since his debut season, he has been on a roll with double-digit wins for three consecutive years. However, he failed to solve the chronic control problem and stepped back.
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| Tsutsugi who returned to Yokohama last year. Photo capture = Yokohama BayStars SNS |
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After being pushed out of its core power, Jinami decided on a major league challenge in 2023. flew to the US via the posting system. He made his major league debut for the Oakland Athletics and was traded to the Baltimore Orioles during the season. He was thrown out to the bullpen after being hit hard as a starting pitcher. After 64 games in his first year, he failed to reach the major leagues. This year, he was released from Triple-A, a minor league under the Seattle Mariners, after seeking promotion.
There were more players in Yokohama's second division that day. Tsutsugo, who is reorganizing due to poor batting, played as a designated hitter No. 4. Dayan Vissiedo (36), a Cuban infielder who recently joined the team, came out as a third-base man. Vichiedo played 986 games for the Chunichi Dragons for nine years from 2016 to 2024. He is a legendary foreign hitter with a career batting average of 0.287-1012 hits, 139 home runs, and 549 RBIs. He left Japan because he failed to renew his contract with Chunichi and was called by Yokohama.
In addition, Koki Kajiwara (26) and Ryoki Watarai (23), who played in the first team, participated as table setters 1 and 2. Kajiwara has played 47 games in the first team this season and Otarai has played 71 games. Watarai is a rookie first-place outfielder in 2024.
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| Outfielder Watarai, who joined last year with the first nomination. Photo capture = Yokohama BayStars SNS |
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Meanwhile, Yokohama's second division lost to Chiba Lotte 1-3. The first team also lost 0-2 to Hanshin and lost second place to the Yomiuri Giants. The gap between Hanshin and No. 1 was 10.5 games.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
