海外「大谷翔平が寒いニューヨークでも強かった訳」

“That was at the end of April, 2010. Even though he had just entered high school, Otani had already hit number four in the practice match, and the pitcher hadn’t played yet. I heard that he was tall, but he was not physically fit, so he decided not to throw it until the fall of the first year. That’s why he was guarding the right field, and when the runner was on first base, a hit suddenly flew in front of the right field. At that time, Otani-kun threw the ball to third base, which was ridiculous……the runner stuck the ball into the third glove in the middle of second and third bases, and it was Otani-kun’s way of throwing that surprised me more than that. When I saw the softness of my shoulders and the way I used my arms, I thought there was an outrageous child.”

　It’s not just the way you throw it. He swings his bat in the next batter’s circle, hits a sharp ball in the at-bat, and runs. As soon as he saw it, Kojima, who was stationed in a small room behind the Internet, immediately told Hanamaki Higashi’s director, Hiroshi Sasaki, “This child has a different vessel. I’m sure I’ll be number one in the draft in three years.” Kojima looked back on those days and said. “No matter what surprises me, the most is his sense, his physical use, and his athleticism. The way he threw, the way he ran, and the way he shook his bat made me feel his tremendous talent as a pitcher. His body is soft and his shoulders are soft. Every movement has a good sense. I was a major scout, so I only look at this player based on how far he can go at the major level. Especially for high school students, I didn’t go to get enough players to play in the major leagues. But as for Otani-kun, in the spring of his first year of high school, I was convinced that he would become an outrageous player even in the major leagues.”

　Kojima immediately sent a scouting report to the Dodgers, saying, “Otani Shohei of Hanamaki Higashi High School will become the number one player in Japanese history, both throwing and hitting.” After that, Kojima went to Hanamaki to mark Otani.

　East Sea Kojima, who joined the Giants outside the draft from Otakawadai High School in 1992, his sixth year as a professional, won his first professional victory as a relief pitcher in just 10 days, and suddenly attracted attention. Soon after, however, he hurt his back and dropped out of the second division. After leaving the Giants, Tommy John underwent surgery to rebuild the ligament of his left elbow. The surgeon is Dr. Frank Jove. Four months after Masumi Kuwata underwent surgery, Kojima had undergone the same surgery at the same hospital as Kuwata.