Pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka of Seibu, a professional baseball player who will retire from active duty only this season, joined the team before the final pitching on the 19th and adjusted with catch balls.
In July, 41-year-old pitcher Matsuzaka announced that he would retire from active duty only this season, and on the 19th, he went up to the final mound in the match against Nippon-Ham Fighters at MetLife Dome, the home base in Tokorozawa City, Saitama Prefecture. increase.
Pitcher Matsuzaka joined the team on the 18th before pitching, and showed a relaxed appearance by talking with pitcher Fumiya Nishiguchi and pitcher Kona Takahashi with a smile.
In practice, after working on a light menu such as running and stretching, I played catch while gradually increasing the distance for about 20 minutes so as to check the form and feeling with the bullpen catcher.
Finally, I had a catcher sit in the outfield and practiced pitching, throwing about 20 strong balls with changing balls.
Pitcher Matsuzaka returned to Seibu in the old nest last year and had a uniform number of "16", but on the 19th he will retire and pitch in the uniform of "18" he used to wear.
I will also have a press conference before the game to talk about my life as a baseball player.
Pitcher Matsuzaka said, "I practiced wearing a uniform for the first time in a long time, and I realized again that this is my home. I hope that as many people as possible will know my current situation. I don't know who he will be, but I'm sorry. To be honest, I don't know if there will be a strike, but I hope he can stop with one ball, "commented through the team.