Japan Series MVP! Confession of DeNA’s Masashi Kuwabara: “I can’t say I’m having a hard time

Mood-maker for DeNA

Red Potato Tart!”

At the WBSC Premier 12 in November, Masayuki Kuwahara (31) of DeNA teased Kotaro Kurebayashi (22) of the Orix during practice. The “call” was so unexpected that even Kohtaro couldn’t help but burst out laughing. The atmosphere in the “Samurai Japan” team suddenly relaxed. Kuwabara recalls.

I had been calling out to him from the bench, ‘Hey, Beni-Imo Tart! from the bench. Now that we were on the same team, I thought I would say it again.

Kuwabara is the leadoff man and mood-maker for DeNA. In the Japan Series against Softbank, he batted .444 with one home run and nine runs batted in as the No. 1 hitter, winning the team’s triple crown and earning MVP honors. Although Kuwabara has become a hotshot professional baseball player, it has not been smooth sailing for him. Here, Kuwabara tells the story of his difficult life in baseball.

Kuwabara, a native of Izumi City, Osaka Prefecture, began playing baseball when he was in the second grade of elementary school. In junior high school, he was a member of the Izumi Boys, and went on to high school at Fukuchiyama Narumi, a prestigious school in Kyoto Prefecture. He was a regular at third base and shortstop, and although he had never played in the Koshien Tournament, in the summer of his junior year in Kyoto, he had 16 hits and drove in five runs.

I wanted to be a professional baseball player since I was a kid,” he said. That’s why I was really happy when I was selected fourth in the draft by the Bay Stars in 2011. It was the only time, ever, that I cried with happiness.”

The yips and the …….”

But the joy was short-lived. Immediately after joining the pro ranks, he ran into adversity.

I think it was a team situation, but I was often used at second base,” he said. I had played third base and shortstop in high school and had no experience as a second baseman. It was an unfamiliar position, and I couldn’t get a feel for how to send the ball off, which led to the yips. …… The poor defense affected his hitting as well. The first thing that comes to mind is the fact that the first baseman is a very good player. If I had continued as a second baseman, I don’t think I would be in the professional game today.

The turning point came in 2001. Daisuke Yamashita, the second baseman at the time, suggested that he switch to the outfield.

He said, “It may be a misnomer, but I could throw more freely as an outfielder than as a second baseman. I gradually stopped worrying about pitching. He was also encouraged by the words of his high school senior and teammate, Shokuo Yanagida: “Don’t think too far ahead. Don’t think too far ahead. Concentrate on each pitch and each at-bat. At the time, I was worried about my future, so I felt more positive.

His appearances with the first team increased, and in 2005 he played in all 143 games. The team also came from third place in the Climax Series to reach the Japan Series against SoftBank. Kuwabara also played in the No. 1 position in center. However, …….

He said, “From the first at bat in the first game, I went 14 at-bats without a hit, completely stopping the team’s momentum. When we lost in the sixth game and were eliminated from the championship, I couldn’t move from the bench. I was so frustrated and angry with myself. I had to grow up more. I felt strongly that I had to become a player who could contribute to victory.

Coincidentally, this year’s Japan Series was to be a matchup with SoftBank, who came in third in the league standings, just as they did in 2005. However, DeNA had lost consecutive games since the start of the series, and the nightmare of seven years ago came back to haunt the team. Kuwabara was angry at his teammates in the post-game meeting, and said, “I could sense the energy of the guys fighting so hard.

I didn’t feel the energy of the team fighting hard,” he said. I was angry. I told him, ‘Don’t forget how hard you have worked to get this far.

From the third game onward, Kuwabara also inspired the team with his physical play. He made a diving catch of a hit batsman’s hit ball, and then head-sliding to get an infield hit. ……

I’m not a pro if I’m afraid of getting hurt. I’m going to play in the games even if my body is in shambles. I can’t say, ‘I’m having a hard time. I can’t say, ‘I’m having a hard time.’ When I think of all the people who supported me during my difficult times, I can’t be depressed.

Kuwabara is not only a stoic athlete. He is also famous for his cheerful character. During the interleague game against Nippon Ham, he danced the “Kitsune Dance” of the Fighters’ girls on the bench to the delight of the Pacific League fans.

Yamato-san (37) was sitting next to me, so I thought, ‘Let’s make him laugh. I sometimes tease my teammates, but I have no special intention. I don’t care if they don’t like me, I just want to be myself as I am.

Kuwabara finished the season in the best possible way, defeating Softbank to become the number one player in Japan. He must have finally been released from the pressure. At the end of the interview, he expressed his relief.

I had been tense for a long time, so I felt like I was dreaming,” he said. I had been so tense all day, so it was like a dream.

From the December 27, 2024 issue of FRIDAY