Baseball Legend Kakefu Reveals Key to Hanshin’s Victory

“Last season was a year when I truly felt the greatness of former manager Akihiro Okada (67). Manager Kyuji Fujikawa (44) has inherited that strength as it is. The key will be where they stand in September. With sufficient talent, they will surely be in a competitive position.”

Masayuki Kakefu (70), praised as “Mr. Tigers,” has been inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame this year, marking the 90th anniversary of the founding of the Hanshin Tigers. As a legendary, unwavering cleanup hitter in his playing days, what thoughts does he hold for his old team?

The key player for the league championship is

“I think the current Hanshin team is built around its pitchers, but I still can’t see the kind of baseball that Manager Fujikawa really wants to play. Of course, winning is best, but even when they win, there are issues to address.”

As of May 12, after about 35 games, the Central League is in a tight race for first place. The team’s 3rd and 4th hitters, Shota Morishita (24) and Teruaki Sato (26), are leading in batting average and home runs respectively. Shoki Murakami (26), who won as the opening day starting pitcher for the first time, is also in good form. Kakefu spoke about the key players for the league championship:

“Definitely Teruaki Sato. How he leads the team will be crucial. Also, Morishita, who played the key role as cleanup hitter at Premier12, is important. Whether these young 3rd and 4th hitters can put up numbers that lead the team—that’s the key for the batting lineup—and the key for winning the league.”

As he began talking about these young Tigers, he became very enthusiastic:

“Morishita is the kind of player who can play without feeling pressure. I want him to approach this year as if he’s enjoying being the cleanup hitter all season long (he’s currently batting 3rd). Sato has been expected to perform every year, and I think he’s been frustrated himself. This season will be the real test to see his true worth. It’s his fifth year as a pro, and he set his personal best with 24 home runs in his first and third years. This year, he needs to hit over 30 home runs and set a career high.”

Last offseason, Yusuke Ohyama’s (30) declaration of free agency shook the club. He said he wanted to hear evaluations from other teams and exercised his FA rights restricted to domestic moves. However, six days after the fan appreciation day, Ohyama announced he would stay with the team.

“He probably raised his hand intending to leave. I was planning to support him no matter what choice he made. After much thought, Ohyama decided to stay. He is a player who doesn’t mind sacrificing himself and wants to contribute to the team’s wins and help the team succeed.”

“Having Ohyama as a kind of older brother leading the team behind the brothers Sato and Morishita is significant. If the two young players can lead the team with their own numbers and play baseball like that, the team’s results will naturally follow.”

In the May 15 issue of FRIDAY and the paid edition “FRIDAY GOLD”, Kakefu candidly discusses his expectations for the young Tigers and his feelings about Koshien Stadium.

For more details and multiple photos, click here↓.

From the May 30, 2025 issue of “FRIDAY”