Masayuki Kakefu: Satoteru Is the Key to Hanshin’s Title Run

Congratulations on your 70th birthday interview:
The Baseball Hall of Famer “Mr. Tigers” looks ahead to the rest of this season

“Last season was a year where I truly felt just how incredible former manager Akinobu Okada (67) was. Manager Kyuji Fujikawa (44) has inherited that roster as it is. The question is where the team will be standing come September. With the strength they have, I’m sure they’ll be in a position to contend.”

Masayuki Kakefu (70), affectionately known as “Mr. Tigers,” was inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame this year, marking the milestone of the Hanshin Tigers’ 90th anniversary. The legend who once reigned as the team’s immovable cleanup hitter spoke about his thoughts on his former club.

“I think today’s Hanshin is a team built around its pitching staff, but we still haven’t seen the kind of baseball Manager Fujikawa truly wants to play. Winning is great, but even when you win, there are always lessons to be learned.”

As of May 12, after around 35 games, the Central League remained tightly contested. Within the team, the 3-4 duo of Shota Morishita (24) and Teruaki Sato (26) led in batting average and home runs respectively, while Shoki Murakami (26) — who made his first Opening Day start — was also performing well. Kakefu named the keys to a league championship.

“It has to be Sato Teru. How he leads the team forward will be crucial. And Morishita, who took on the cleanup role in the Premier 12 tournament, is equally important. Whether these two young players in the 3-4 spots can put up the numbers to carry the team — that’s what will determine the batting lineup’s strength and the team’s chances at the pennant.”

When it came to discussing these two young Tigers, Kakefu became animated.

“Morishita is the kind of player who doesn’t feel pressure. I want him to take on the cleanup role (though he’s currently batting third) with a sense of enjoyment for a whole season. As for Sato Teru, he’s had expectations heaped on him every year, and I’m sure it’s been frustrating. This season will be the real test of whether he can finally live up to those expectations. In his rookie and third seasons, he hit 24 home runs each — his personal best. This year, he needs to hit over 30 and set new career-high numbers.”

During the offseason, the club was rocked when Yusuke Ohyama (30) declared free agency, saying he wanted to hear offers from other teams. However, six days after the fan appreciation event, Ohyama announced he would stay.

“I think he raised his hand because he genuinely considered leaving. I was ready to support him whatever he chose. But after much soul-searching, he decided to remain with the team. He’s a player who isn’t afraid to sacrifice personal gain for the team’s success and wants to be the one to help them win. Having a senior figure like Ohyama, a big brother type behind the younger Morishita and Sato Teru, is huge for this team. If those two younger guys can win games with their numbers and play that kind of baseball, the team’s results will naturally follow.”

On the pitching staff, Kakefu offered this assessment:

“Keito Mombetsu (20), who pitched five innings in the March 15 game against the Cubs, is a real talent. I believe he has what it takes to become an ace. Along with experienced pitchers like Yuki Nishi (34), Kotaro Otake (29) — who notched a career-high 12 wins last year — and new foreign acquisition Duplantier (30), they all have solid, powerful pitching. The staff has enough stamina to endure a full season. The balance between the starters and relievers rivals the Giants, maybe even surpasses them. And with a manager like Fujikawa, a former pitcher himself, there’s no cause for concern.”

The fans’ support has also changed

It’s been 37 years since Kakefu retired as a player in 1988. Last November, he was appointed as the 8th chairman of the Hanshin Tigers OB association, and this January, he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame — a joy like no other.

“I never started playing baseball thinking I’d become a professional, join the Hanshin Tigers, win titles, and even achieve a championship. So when I actually received the phone call about being inducted into the Hall of Fame, part of me thought, ‘Am I really worthy of this?’ Honestly, my numbers over those 15 years in pro baseball weren’t all that remarkable. Of course I was happy, but more than that, I felt reassured that there had been no ‘lie’ in the baseball I played. That meant the most to me.”

Though he humbly downplays it, after joining in 1974, Kakefu claimed three home run titles and one RBI crown. His book, Kakefu’s Hitting Theory, released last October, also made waves for revealing his batting philosophy for the first time.

One of his most legendary moments remains the April 17, 1985, game against the Giants, when he, along with Randy Bass and Akinobu Okada, hit three consecutive home runs into the back screen off pitcher Hiromi Makihara. That year, Hanshin won the Central League and went on to claim the Japan Series title. Drafted in the sixth round, Kakefu rose to become the team’s key cleanup hitter.

This season, Hanshin’s games have been selling out, with packed houses night after night. Although Koshien Stadium is now filled with cheerful voices, Kakefu recalls how harsh the fans used to be.

“The biggest change from our era is how fans support the team. Back then, we’d get heckled pretty badly and see rough articles written about us too (laughs). Now with social media, people can directly voice their thoughts to players. That might be tough to handle, but I don’t think it’s a bad thing. I also hear fans reminding each other about proper cheering and manners in the stands. It’s a good trend.”

He went on:

“Koshien draws about 3 million people a year. Not just Hanshin — pro baseball’s attendance is growing every year. If the quality of the fans keeps improving, we might eventually see a day when ballparks can do away with the safety nets behind home plate. Where players and fans can interact directly for autographs and such. I’d love it if Koshien became the first stadium to make that happen.”

Young Tigers pushing forward, and a hopeful future for Koshien — Mister Tigers allowed a quiet smile to cross his face.

From the May 30, 2025 issue of “FRIDAY”