A retirement ceremony was held for professional baseball pitcher Tetsuya Utsumi of Seibu.
[Full text of pitcher Utsumi's retirement ceremony and his greeting]
Pitcher Utsumi, who is in his 19th year as a professional and is 40 years old, started the match against Rakuten on the 19th at his home ground, the Belluna Dome in Tokorozawa City, Saitama Prefecture.
Pitcher Utsumi bowed and went up to the mound to face Rakuten No. 1 Tsuyoshi Yamazaki. He scored the second ground ball with , and changed hands while receiving a big applause from the fans.
In the match, Seibu lost 4-6 after extra time, and after the match, a retirement ceremony was held for pitcher Utsumi.
In this, a video message was played on the screen, and Shinnosuke Abe, the coach of the Giants who once built the battery, said, "The fact that I was able to make an active career for 19 years is proof that I have worked hard, so I am very confident in the future. I want you to make the most of your baseball life."
Then, after receiving bouquets from Mr. Tsuneo Horiuchi, who was the manager at the time of joining the Giants, and his family, pitcher Utsumi made a speech, saying, ``When I first joined the team, I was overwhelmed by the high level of professional baseball, and there was a time when I thought it might not be possible. But I didn't give up and worked hard in my own way. Thanks to everyone who supported me, I was able to play this far. Thank you very much."
Finally, pitcher Utsumi made a lap around the stadium while waving to the fans, and near the mound he was tossed up by his teammates and said goodbye to his 19 years of active life.
Retirement ceremony [Full greeting]
I, Tetsuya Utsumi, will retire after this season.
Looking back, his professional baseball career began with the Giants, where his grandfather also played.
On the day of his joining press conference, I still cannot forget the sight of his grandmother crying as she touched his uniform as if to remember his late grandfather.
During my 19 years as an active player, I played under Coach Horiuchi, Director Hara, Director Takahashi, and Director Tsuji.
Director Horiuchi gave me a chance, Director Hara gave me responsibility, Director Takahashi gave me another chance to climb up, and Director Tsuji gave me new experiences and challenges.
The 2,000 innings and 135 wins I achieved this season are thanks to the four coaches who used me.
Thank you very much.
When I first joined the team, I was overwhelmed by the high level of professional baseball in the world, and there was a time when I thought it might be impossible, but I didn't give up, and I worked hard in my own way.
The people who have supported me are the coaches who have taught me so far, the seniors who have treated me with strictness but with love, and my peers of the same generation who have worked hard together to aim higher. Thanks to all the cute juniors and everyone who supported me, I was able to play this far.
Thank you very much.
Above all, let me express my gratitude to my family who supported me the most.
Mother.
I had a lot of trouble when I was younger.
Still, I was able to play baseball so far thanks to you letting me play baseball and giving birth to me with a strong body.
Thank you very much.
my wife
We laughed together, we cried together, and I think it was especially difficult when the children were small.
Even so, he always supported me by my side and supported me hard.
I can only thank you.
I don't think I could have made it this far without you.
Thank you very much.
Children.
When I was in pain, in pain, and when I was about to break my heart, I was saved by your presence.
Thank you.
Now it's your turn.
Please do your best every single day towards your dreams.
I support you.
And Sumiya player who is left.
Four years ago, when I transferred to the Lions, they apologized, but I was able to have a really great experience in these four years.
Thank you very much.
But I will never forget the home run I hit at the Tokyo Dome.
I think my baseball life will continue.
Please keep doing a good job.
I'm rooting for you.
To all the Lions fans, I apologize for not being able to meet your expectations.
Still, I don't know how much I was encouraged by the warm cheers and applause I always received.
Thank you very much.
I spent most of my four years working with young players at the Carminique field next door.
There are a lot of good players who are looking forward to the future.
But this near and far place is not an easy place to come to.
I myself have practiced recklessly since I was young, and I still feel like I've done it for 19 years.
Practice doesn't lie.
Because I felt it myself.
Dear fans, please look forward to the players who will overcome this wall and play an active role on the stage of the first army.
To all the Giants fans, that cheering song that starts with "Blessed power" is my treasure.
I will never forget the cheering and applause when I threw the ball at the Tokyo Dome last year and when I went up to the mound.
Thank you very much for your continued support even after moving to the Lions.
Last but not least, the Lions are now united as a team and fighting with all their might.
I will prepare until the very end.
Lions fans, let's fight together.
Thank you very much for your time today.
Active in giant Seibu, also serving as a pitching coach from this season
In his 19th year as a professional, 40-year-old pitcher Utsumi joined the giants from Tokyo Gas in 2004 with a free acquisition quota, and has won the most wins for two consecutive years in 2011 and 2012. He played an active role and won a total of 133 wins in 15 years with the Giants.
In the off-season of 2018, he transferred to Seibu as compensation for Ginjiro Sumitani, who transferred to the giants as a FA = free agent.
At Seibu, where he was enrolled for four years, he concurrently served as a pitcher coach from this season, and in May this year, he became the 92nd person in history to reach a total of 2,000 pitches.