Rakuten Naoto Watanabe retires "We are proud to fight together" as the Matsuzaka generation September 13, 17:03
Naoto Watanabe, a professional baseball player and a batting coach of the 1st Army, held a retirement interview and stated that he was one of the so-called "Matsuzaka Generation" and "I'm proud to have fought together with the wonderful players at the same time." It was.
39-year-old Watanabe is in the same grade as Seibu's pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka, and is the only active player in professional baseball as a so-called "Matsuzaka Generation" fielder.
This season, his 14th year as a professional player, he did not participate in the 1st army, and on the 12th, he announced that he would retire from active duty only this season through the team.
On the 13th, a retirement interview was held at Rakuten Seimei Park Miyagi in Sendai City, where he is based. "The most decisive factor is that I have no chance to participate. I am happy to see the success and desperate face of young players, and as a player I thought it was different, "he said, explaining why he decided to retire.
On top of that, as one of the "Matsuzaka Generation" who had many star players, he recalled, "I'm proud to have fought together with the wonderful players I admire."
Also, regarding playing at Rakuten in the old nest again after working for Seibu, "I was helped by the many cheers from Rakuten fans even after moving to another team. I can retire wearing Rakuten uniforms. I'm happy because it was a dream, "he said.
"I haven't left behind as an individual, but I haven't won the championship yet, so I want to make everyone happy at the end," he said with enthusiasm for the rest of the season.
After the press conference, Hideto Asamura and Takero Okajima, who yearn for Watanabe, gave him a bouquet as a surprise, and Watanabe smiled while wiping his tears.