“It’s so hot at Toda Stadium…” Yakult’s Tetsuto Yamada, Who Has Been Sidelined by Injury, Eagerly Awaits a Return to the First Team—Here’s the “Unexpected Reason”

“It’s so hot…”

Yakult’s Tetsuto Yamada (33), who has been sidelined by a strained left internal oblique muscle, is working hard to return to the first team, but he is reportedly struggling with an unexpected “tough opponent.” Prioritizing treatment, Yamada finally returned to competitive action on May 31 against Hayate.

“Yamada made his return to competitive play in the May 31 game against Hayate and recorded his first hit in his third game back. In his seventh game back, against Oisix Niigata on June 13 (in Kashiwazaki), he finally hit his first home run of the season, showing that he’s getting back into form.However, Second Team Manager Noriyuki Shiroishi (53) remains cautious about Yamada’s return to the first team, stating, ‘First, we’ll have him play a full game and see how he responds…’ ” (Team alumnus)

Although he has struggled with slumps in recent years, with the team having lost its main slugger, Munetaka Murakami (26), to the Major Leagues this season, Manager Takahiro Ikeyama (60) had high hopes for Yamada to anchor the heart of the lineup.

“He injured his left side during spring training in February, but initially, the coaching staff expected him to return to the first team in about half a month. However, he subsequently suffered a new injury, and it seems there is now no clear timeline for his return.The media outlet in charge of the story had obtained this information but chose not to report it, partly at the player’s request. What is certain is that his physical condition was worse than the team had anticipated. However, Yamada is currently eager to return to the first team for an unexpected reason,” said a sports newspaper reporter.

What exactly are these “unexpected reasons”? A team staff member explains.

“While he told the media, ‘I definitely want to play on the first team,’ in reality, he seems to be fed up with the environment at Toda Stadium, the Yakult second-team’s home field… Toda Stadium has an all-artificial turf field, and as summer approaches, the sun’s glare is intense.It seems Tetsuto is pleading with the front office, saying, ‘It’s too hot to concentrate on practice or games, so please let me go up (to the first team) soon!’ (laughs). Half of it is a dark joke referring to the aging facilities, but the other half seems to be serious.

“That’s so typical of Tetsuto,” some team officials say with a wry smile, while some players remark, “Even though he’s a veteran who’s contributed so much, this is a bit selfish…” In fact, even without Tetsuto, the team is performing well and is in the running for first place. “I hope he regains his original form and earns his way back to the first team based on his own ability,” (ibid.)

For the Yakult Swallows, who have been far from a championship in recent years, Yamada—who has experienced winning the Japan Series—is indispensable. Will he be able to contribute to a championship with his renowned batting skills?