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85 players take part in rookie workshop on being a pro
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TOKYO, Feb. 28 (22:36) Kyodo
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A total of 85 baseball players, including Nippon Ham Fighters
top draft pick Yu Darvish who was recently suspended by his high
school for smoking, took part in a rookie workshop on Monday focusing
on the mental attitude of being a professional.
Taeko Utsugi, who coached Japan to the bronze medal in women's
softball at the Athens Olympics, gave a speech on expressing
gratitude while former Hanshin Tigers player Hiroshi Yagi, known as
the ''God of Pinch-hitting,'' talked about the importance of being a
professional.
''I listened to a lot of people talk and I learned a lot,'' said
Darvish, who was suspended from Tohoku High School and ordered not to
leave the team dormitory after he was caught smoking under-age while
taking part in a minor-league spring training camp.
''Right now, I just want to join the team as quickly as
possible,'' said Darvish, who was stone-faced as he returned promptly
to the team dormitory in Kamagaya, Chiba prefecture, after the
seminar.
Hanshin Tigers pitcher Kento Tsujimoto, who at 15 became the
youngest player in Japanese pro baseball to be picked in the amateur
draft, said he is ready to take on the responsibility that goes with
being in the limelight.
''It was the first time I've ever listened to people talk this
long so I got tired. But I understand that I have to take
responsibility for my actions,'' said Tsujimoto.
Highly touted Rakuten Eagles rookie pitcher Yasuhiro Ichiba also
said he took away a lot from the workshop.
''There were many things I didn't know,'' Ichiba said. |
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