Pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka of professional baseball Seibu, who will retire only this season, played a walk against one batter at the Nippon Ham fight held at MetLife Dome on the night of the 19th, and finished the last pitching of active duty. ..
After a retirement interview, 41-year-old pitcher Matsuzaka retired in a uniform with a uniform number of "18" that was changed for today at the Nippon-Ham Fighter held at MetLife Dome in Tokorozawa City, Saitama Prefecture. I climbed the board.
Then, the name was introduced in the announcement in the hall, and while the fans of the stand sent a big applause, it went up to the mound of the 1st army for the first time in 2 years since the time of Chunichi.
The first ball was a ball at 118 km and the second ball was a strike at 118 km against Nippon-Ham Fighter Kensuke Kondoh, a junior at Yokohama High School. The fifth ball also became a foreball with a ball of 116 kg, and finished the last climb of active duty.
When the change of pitcher was announced, pitcher Matsuzaka shook hands with the infield players who gathered on the mound, bowed to the Nippon-Ham bench and pulled up to the bench, smiling at the teammates who greeted him. rice field.
After pitching, Matsuzaka said, "At first, I was impressed by the applause of the fans at the moment when I went to the ground. To be honest, I was not in a good condition to stand on a professional mound, but Hokkaido Japan was the last opponent. I am grateful to the Ham Fighters, Kondo who stood at the pitch, the fans who came to the stadium today, and the fans who supported me on TV even if I could not come to the stadium. " I made a comment through the team.
Greetings to teammates prior to pitching "I wanted to win together"
Prior to pitching, Pitcher Matsuzaka greeted his teammates shortly after 1:30 pm before the general practice.
In this, "I'm retiring this season. I came back to Lions last year, so I wanted to play with you and win. I've been able to play for 23 years, but you too I hope I can play for as long as possible. "
After that, all the teammates practiced wearing T-shirts with the number 18 uniform number, and pitcher Matsuzaka played catch while gradually increasing the distance after dashing.
Under Matsuzaka, who finished the practice in about an hour, four people, including a junior from Yokohama High School who belongs to Nippon-Ham, Kensuke Kondoh and Daiki Asama, rushed to Matsuzaka and had a conversation with a smile. Was there.
Nippon-Ham Kondo who fought on the retirement pitch "Battle is a lifelong treasure"
Kensuke Kondoh, a junior of Yokohama High School who played against pitcher Matsuzaka, said, "Mr. Matsuzaka is a big senior who has been chasing since he was little. Being able to play is a treasure of my life. I will do my best to get closer to the great seniors who have been leading the baseball world so far, "he commented through the team.
Retirement ceremony will be held during the fan appreciation event on December 4th
Professional baseball Seibu announced that it will hold a retirement ceremony for pitcher Matsuzaka, who held a meeting on the 19th, at the MetLife Dome home base and online at a fan appreciation event scheduled for December 4.
At the press conference, Pitcher Matsuzaka said, "I will be able to do the ceremony again on Fan Appreciation Day, so I hope I can tell the fans something. Today I am a night game. I don't think everyone will have much time, so I'm wondering if it's better to have another day. There's also the last train. "