New Piccari Pitching Method Explodes! The “Dream” and “Struggle Against Infection” Behind the Birth of “Southpaw Jiki Sano

Now he throws strikes!”

However, after going through the surgery, the pain was reduced and the inflammation improved. It was only 10 days before he was allowed to go out for the day to pitch.

Mr. Sano, who just a month before had come to the stadium by train, arrived at the stadium that day in a wheelchair. Nevertheless, his strong desire to be on the mound for the first pitch of the “Kura Sushi Tournament 2024 18th Pop Athlete Cup” on December 21, and to throw a strike with his left arm, made it possible for him to make a successful comeback to the pitching hill.

It felt good,” he said. I had been practicing indoors for a long time, so the atmosphere and air were different. My home ballpark was Fujiidera Stadium, but I was happy to pitch at Jingu Stadium, which is a wonderful place. I felt again that this is where I belong.
This is the first step. It means I am back with my left arm. I will work hard to throw strikes this time.

After pitching, he returned to the hospital to begin treatment. If the numbers do not improve with the administration of antibiotics, the worst that can happen is that he will have to undergo surgery again, but “This will happen many times in the future. I can ‘ t be depressed every time,” said Sano, looking forward. His appearance was reminiscent of his days as a relief ace, when he was able to get out of a pinch on many occasions.

Diabetes has weakened my resistance and immunity, and this has caused all kinds of problems. In my case, I had to lose my arm. In my case, I ended up losing my arm, but I think there are a lot of things that can be done. I hope that everyone will stay close to their bodies and put their health first. And if you do get sick, don’t be discouraged and deal with it.

I’m a stubborn person like an idiot, but this is how I came to be able to throw. When I can throw with my left arm more firmly and catch a ball, I would like to give baseball lessons. That is my current goal. I’m going to work hard toward that.”

Catching a ball is a conversation over a ball, isn’t it? I think that is the starting point of baseball–this is what Mr. Sano repeatedly emphasized during our interviews, and it is also his motivation.

I’ve been involved in this tournament for a long time, and we get a lot of teams from all over the country. As my life’s work, I have a big dream that when I can move around a little more, I want to spend many years traveling around the country and interacting with all the school-age baseball kids in Japan.

I became a professional baseball player by playing the game I loved since I was a kid and challenging myself more and more. And because I was able to do so well as a professional baseball player, I am still able to be involved in baseball after quitting the game. I never disliked baseball at all.

That is why I want children to challenge themselves as hard as they can. I want them to think that baseball is fun. I want them to feel that baseball is fun and that they can take on challenges no matter how old they are, rather than how I look. I never thought that baseball would become my life’s work to this extent. If it brings a smile to everyone’s face, that makes me really happy.

Sano left Jingu Stadium with the words, “Next time I will pitch coolly.

This time, he will probably throw strikes with a two-step motion (⁉) like Clayton Kershaw (36), one of the best left-handers in the major leagues, whom he says he has taken as a reference. Hopefully, it will be with his signature slider.