Hiroshima Toyo Carp 19 years Yoshiyuki Ishihara retires interview "It was a happy time" October 16 19:21

Yoshiyuki Ishihara, a 19-year-old catcher of professional baseball and Hiroshima, who contributed to the league's third straight victory, held a retirement interview and said, "It was a happy time to look back. I am grateful to the fans who gave me courage and strength. No, "he said.

Ishihara held a retirement interview at Mazda Stadium in Hiroshima City on the 16th.



41-year-old Ishihara, who is from Gifu prefecture and is the oldest player in the team, has been pulling the team for many years as a key to defense with accurate throwing and high catching technology, which is said to be one of the best in the ball world, and contributed to the team's first consecutive league title. did.



Ishihara commented on the reason why he decided to retire, "I thought that if I couldn't help the team as a baseball player, I would have to retire. I've been playing less games year by year, and what kind of position do I have while practicing with young players? I knew that, so I decided to retire based on that, "he said with a refreshing expression.



Regarding the league championship that he achieved in 2016 for the first time in 25 years, he recalled, "I'm sorry that there was a time when I couldn't win for a long time, so I vividly remember the match that decided to win."



And as the most memorable pitcher, Hiroki Kuroda, who returned to Hiroshima from the major leagues and achieved 200 wins in Japan and the United States, said, "I never thought I could play in the same uniform again. He was a person who had been thinking about how the team would win and what he could do to win it, so he taught me that. "



On top of that, "It was a happy time when I looked back. I felt it was long when I was doing it, but when I decided to retire, I felt it short. The fans gave me courage and strength, cheering me on both good and bad times. I have no choice but to say thank you, "he said.



Ishihara's retirement ceremony is scheduled to take place next month on the 7th against the Hanshin Tigers.