Shogo Akiyama, a former Reds player who joined the professional baseball team in Hiroshima, held a press conference in Hiroshima City and stated his enthusiasm, saying, "I want to show a solid play so that the fans can cheer."

34-year-old Akiyama is a fast-paced outfielder who holds the record for the most hits in the season for professional baseball and has won the "Golden Glove Award" six times.



Akiyama decided to join the professional baseball team Hiroshima after signing a free contract with the Reds of the major leagues in April, and will return to the Japanese baseball world for the first time in three years.



Akiyama, who was at the press conference at Mazda Stadium in Minami-ku, Hiroshima on the 30th, said, "I am relieved to have this day after his challenge in the United States."



After negotiating with the three teams, he explained why he chose Hiroshima, saying, "I want to do it for a long time as a player, and I was happy to hear from the team manager that I had achieved my goal of 2000 hits." talked.



And about the impression of the team, "I was feeling a lot of pressure as an enemy for this red team in the town. My job is to go to base first, so I want to show a solid play so that the fans can cheer." I told you.



His jersey number was decided to be "9" worn by former coach Koichi Ogata and Yoshihiro Maru.



According to the team, Akiyama's contract is estimated to be a three-year contract with a total of 500 million yen including piecework payment.

Hiroshima OB Takehiko Kobayakawa "Become a model for young people"

Takehiko Kobayakawa, who also serves as a commentator for NHK's Major League Baseball about Shogo Akiyama, said, "I was frankly surprised because I hadn't imagined joining Hiroshima so much. I think it will definitely be an important and necessary asset for the team." I put expectations on it.



Regarding returning to the middle of the season with a free contract with the Major League Baseball, "I was having a hard time dealing with the moving ball peculiar to the Major League Baseball, but I am not worried about the condition. In about 70 games, home runs will hit double digits, "he said.



In addition, he gave an episode when he visited Akiyama, who was training independently in Shizuoka prefecture in January, and said, "I give advice not only to players of other baseball teams but also to female players and become a model for young players. I think that Akiyama's attitude toward baseball will be absorbed as a team and the whole will move in the right direction. "



Mr. Kobayakawa, who said that he had an exchange with Akiyama, said that he had recently contacted him and said, "I was worried about what kind of song to make. I want the fans to look forward to it, "he said with a smile.



Finally, Mr. Kobayakawa sent an ale saying, "Akiyama is a style that constantly does his best as a professional. I want him to play as hard as he can."