Internal Rift at DeNA Over Yoshitomo Tsutsugo’s Status — Veteran Coach Confronts Manager Miura

A close coach directly confronted him.

Last year, veteran outfielder Yoshitomo Tsutsugo (33) made a surprise return to DeNA, and now internal strife is reportedly brewing around him. After playing as DeNA’s undisputed cleanup hitter, Tsutsugo signed a multi-year deal with the Rays via posting after the 2019 season.

“After moving through several MLB teams without much success, he decided to return to Japanese baseball last spring. He was on the verge of signing with the Giants, but when news of a large contract leaked, backlash on social media began. Reading the mood, Tsutsugo ultimately chose to return to his former team,” said a DeNA team alumnus.

In his comeback season, Tsutsugo appeared in 57 games, batting .188 with seven home runs and 23 RBIs.

“Even so, the team pulled off a dramatic run from third place in the Central League to capture its first Japan Series title in 26 years, since 1998. Tsutsugo hit a key home run in a crucial moment and served as a mental leader, making him one of the heroes despite modest stats,” the alumnus continued.

Determined to bounce back this season, Tsutsugo started Opening Day batting third and playing left field.

“But again, the results didn’t come. His batting average stayed in the .100s, clearly showing he wasn’t fully ready. He struggled especially against fastballs. With a veteran underperforming, keeping a corner outfield spot open felt like a waste for the team. Some in the coaching staff pushed for promoting up-and-coming young outfielders, but manager Daisuke Miura (51) wouldn’t make the call,” a team source said.

Miura is often described as a manager too kind to make tough decisions, but this time, that wasn’t the only issue.

“Tsutsugo was a player brought in by the front office as a top priority. Even without great numbers, he remains popular with fans and contributes more to merchandise sales and promotions than other players. Miura understood those dynamics and kept him on the top roster.

However, as Tsutsugo’s struggles continued, voices within the team calling for his demotion to the minors grew louder. Before he was sent down on May 1, a batting coach close to Miura reportedly confronted him, saying, ‘Enough is enough.’ That incident exposed the internal rift, and his demotion was hastily decided,” the source added.

While the team had a 10-13-2 record with Tsutsugo on the roster in March and April, their performance turned around after his demotion in May, as wins started to stack up.

“Within the team, many are now saying Miura’s leadership is losing its grip. It’s an alarming situation for a team that was just Japan’s champion last year,” the source noted.

It seems the embers of this internal discord will continue to smolder.