Hanshin’s Young Stars Turning Away from Fujikawa?

The drawbacks of fireball straight management

Former manager and current team owner advisor Akinobu Okada (67) handed over the team to Hanshin’s new manager Kyuji Fujikawa (44).

After playing 12 games in the open season, the team finished with 3 wins, 5 losses, and 4 draws, ranking 10th out of 12 teams, as they awaited the season opener on March 28.

However, signs of a “rebellion” among the young pitchers have already begun to emerge.

Manager Fujikawa’s defining trait is his sharp, straightforward way of speaking, reminiscent of his playing days.

“In February’s training camp, he essentially ‘confined’ the younger players to their lodgings, leading some young Tigers to push back, saying, ‘He’s going way overboard with all these restrictions.’ The strongest resistance seems to be coming from the pitching staff, which plays the same position as Fujikawa.

While the manager himself has said in interviews that he observes carefully before engaging in communication, in reality, he is reportedly very direct in pointing out flaws. The younger generation of players in the Reiwa era might perceive this as quite overbearing. Some young pitchers have even secretly sought advice from another individual about their techniques and mental approach to the game,” said a former team member.

That person is said to be A, a former left-handed ace for Hanshin in his 40s, well-respected among younger players.

“One first-team youngster confided, ‘I don’t know what might set him off, so it’s hard to speak honestly with Kyuji-san. A-san is outside the team, kind, and explains things carefully when asked.’

First-team pitching chief coach Yuya Ando (47) is seen as having been a yes-man under the Okada administration, making it difficult for players to seek advice from him. If this situation, where players turn to outside former members for guidance, continues into the season, Hanshin could face serious trouble,” said a team insider.

Is there a solution? The aforementioned former player with coaching experience had this to say:

“The manager has instructed fielders to learn to play multiple positions, but the pitchers are reportedly grumbling, saying, ‘That’ll just lead to more errors. This feels like a return to the Yutaka Yano (56) era.’

He seems to be the type of leader who wants to grasp every detail of the team’s situation and personally drive the reforms, but managing nearly 80 registered players with such micromanagement is physically impossible. If he could adopt an approach like former manager Okada, solidifying the regular lineup and delegating some of the coaching responsibilities to his staff, the team would function much more smoothly,” he suggested.

Will his ‘Flaming Fastball Management’ from his playing days truly fit the Reiwa era?