Hiroshima Akamatsu Retired only in this season The figure aimed for resurrection from cancer is courageous September 7 15:49

A 37-year-old veteran outfielder Masato Akamatsu who retired from stomach cancer in professional baseball, Hiroshima, has retired from the current season only.

This was announced by the team on the 7th.

Akamatsu is 37 years old from Kyoto. In 2005, he joined Hanshin from the Ritsumeikan University in 6th draft and transferred to Hiroshima with personal compensation from Takahiro Arai who was transferred to Hanshin as an FA = free agent in 2008.

Recognized for his agility and defensive power, he participated in over 100 games for three consecutive years from the first year of his transfer, and in 2016 three years ago, he played a role as a substitute and defensive in the final game. I contributed to winning the league for the first time in 25 years.

However, gastric cancer was detected off that year, and half of the stomach was removed by surgery, and after treatment with anticancer drugs, it returned to the actual battle of the two troops for the first time in two seasons last year.

Aiming to play in the 1st Army, Kotoshi has been energetically adjusting from the spring camp, has played 46 games by 6th in the 2nd Army Western League, and has a batting average of 10: 4: 3: I have decided two steals.

However, there was no participation in the 1st Army, and according to the team, Akamatsu told his intention to retire only for this season, and the team also accepted this.

Akamatsu will hold a press conference on the 22nd of this month, and the retirement ceremony will be held in the Sino-Japanese game held at Mazda Stadium in Hiroshima City on this day.

While fighting cancer ...

Masato Akamatsu joined Hanshin from Ritsumeikan University and transferred to Hiroshima in 2008 as compensation for Takahiro Arai, who joined Hanshin as an FA = free agent.

Super play that steals and protects with the speed of 50 meters and 5 seconds, and catches a home run hit by climbing a fence in the Yokohama match held at the Mazda Stadium in Hiroshima in August 2010 I showed you.

In 2016, when the team won the league championship for the first time in 25 years, it contributed as a substitute run and defense in the end of the game, becoming the presence of “Ibushi Gin” that is indispensable to the team.

However, gastric cancer was detected at the first medical checkup. Soon I had an operation to remove half of my stomach, but I realized it was stage 3 where metastasis to the lymph nodes was seen, and I had to be treated with anticancer drugs.

After more than half a year of treatment, the side effects of anti-cancer drugs have reduced body weight by nearly 10 kg. Even so, I continued to rehabilitate with the support of more than 1000 letters of encouragement received from people and fans fighting illness.

And last year, I participated in a camp for two troops for the first time in two years. In the practice game on March 4th, he played in return and returned to actual battle. In this year, he participated in 55 official games of 2 troops, and decided 5 pronouncing steals.

After that, while fighting the numbness of the limbs that seemed to be a sequelae of anticancer drugs, at the last camp, "I would give back to play in 1 army. Speaking, I continued practicing with the goal of participating in one army game and deciding to steal.

Still, as young talents gained power, they were not called by one army and applied for retirement to the team.

Akamatsu, who actively participated in cancer lectures off the scene, aimed to revive from cancer, and gave courage and power to many people inside and outside the ground.

Hiroshima Hanshin voices from both fans

The fans who visited the Mazda Stadium in Hiroshima heard voices encouraging their retirement and reluctance to retire.

A 40-year-old man in Hiroshima, who is a fan of Akamatsu, said, “I was sorry that I was working hard and would come back to the 1st Army. It was an image of Ibushi Silver. I want to say that you ’re tired. ”

A man in his fifties in Oyama-cho, Tottori Prefecture, said, “I was waiting for my return, but retirement was a shock. It was a player with the impression that his feet were fast and his defense range was wide. "

A 20-year-old man from Hiroshima said, “I was surprised. When I was an elementary school student, I was impressed that Mr. Akamatsu came to teach baseball to school and was kind to me. I retired when cancer was discovered. I thought it might be, but I think it ’s great to be resurrected. ”

In addition, Hanshin ’s 40-year-old male in Osaka City said, “Because it was going to be sold by Mr. Akahoshi and Mr. Akamatsu before the transfer, it was a feeling that precious people had transferred. However, as a Hanshin fan, I am sorry. "