Former Draft Candidate and Keio University Graduate Sends Support to Shogo Kiyohara

“I have only made choices that everyone thought were good.”

In that situation, Yada faced his second draft. This time, he received only two scouting reports from teams.

“During university, I had received 11 scouting reports. This time, it was just two. And I wasn’t performing well, so I thought there was no way I’d get drafted. I thought it was impossible.”

Then, in January of the following year, Yada left JX-ENEOS.

“My goal was never to play baseball for a long time, it was always to become a professional baseball player. So, if that wasn’t going to happen, I wanted to work. I decided to set 25 as the age to make that decision. That’s why I thought the next season would be my last chance to pursue my dream of becoming a pro. As one option, I sent a video of my play to every Major League Baseball team, even if it was a long shot. Surprisingly, I got a positive response: ‘If you’re coming to America, we’ll take a look.’ So, with that in mind, I thought I should take a chance on my life, and I went to America to participate in tryouts there.”

Although he had decided to take the leap and go to America, he ultimately did not achieve the desired results. However, that challenge became a major turning point in his life.

“Up until then, I had always made choices that others thought were good. Even with choosing a high school, and after graduating, my future path was decided in the same way. No one ever told me ‘no’ on those choices. When I didn’t get drafted, I received various offers, but in the end, I chose a company that everyone would consider a good one. So, up until then, I hadn’t taken any risks that others would try to stop me from taking. Going to America was the first time I broke out of my shell and chose an option that others were worried about. I think that was the point where I was able to take a step forward.”

before, so going to the US was the first time I came out of my shell and made a choice that everyone was worried about. I am now able to take the first step forward.

After his challenge in America, he returned to Japan and chose the Shikoku Island League Plus’s Tokushima Indigo Socks as his final opportunity.

“I received a passionate offer from the owner of Tokushima, who said, ‘Let’s work hard together.’ I felt that this was a place where I could give my all in the end. The team also had the goal of sending players to the pros, so I felt that I could end my career with satisfaction here.”

Although his season with Tokushima didn’t produce results he was fully satisfied with, he was able to approach the draft with more optimism compared to his time in corporate baseball.

“During my time in corporate baseball, I was always feeling anxious, with a sense of frustration and the anxiety of not even getting a chance to play. But in Tokushima, I told myself to enjoy it, knowing it would be my last season. I was also given opportunities that I could be satisfied with, so if it didn’t work out, I would accept it. Of course, I would be happy if I got called, but I was also prepared for the possibility that it wouldn’t happen. I experienced three drafts—one in university, one in corporate baseball, and one in the independent league—and each time I felt completely different emotions.”