Ginji, Rakuten Baseball Professional’s Legendary Player, Excluded from Team’s Plans for Next Season
In a surprising turn of events, it has been revealed through Rakuten Baseball Professional’s interviews with related parties that Ginji, the revered player known for achieving the remarkable feat of 1,000 hits and serving as captain, will not be a part of the team’s future plans for the upcoming season.
Originally hailing from Iwate Prefecture and now at the age of 35, Ginji possesses exceptional bat control skills, which earned him recognition for his remarkable performance in 2013 with a formidable .317 batting average, propelling the team to win their first-ever title in Japan.
Following this extraordinary accomplishment, Ginji assumed the role of captain and went on to become the very first player in the team’s history to achieve a monumental total of 1,000 hits.
However, the current season witnessed a significant decline in Ginji’s performance, with the player making appearances in a mere six games and achieving just one hit in the process.
Thus, it has come to light, through interviews with concerned individuals, that Rakuten has decided to part ways with the loyal Ginji, who had dedicated himself wholeheartedly to the team and amassed a remarkable 1,239 hits in the 2018 season.
According to sources, in an effort to honor Ginji’s desire to continue his professional career, the team has reached out to him regarding a potential role in the team’s front office.
Sumiya Also Excluded from Rakuten’s Future Plans
Adding to the unexpected news, Rakuten has delivered another blow by informing Ginjiro Sumiya, a former catcher with a solid 18-year professional experience, that he will not be offered a contract for the upcoming season.
Sumiya, who initially entered the league through Seibu in the first round of the 2006 high school draft, later made a free agent move to the Giants, and subsequently joined Rakuten midway through the season two years ago.
Despite his extensive experience, Sumiya’s performance throughout the current season was lackluster, with the player participating in only 65 games and achieving a modest .221 batting average.
Rakuten has expressed their willingness to provide Sumiya with an alternative position within the organization. Nevertheless, Sumiya has expressed his desire to continue his professional career as an active player.
Rakuten Baseball Professional revealed through interviews with related parties that Ginji, who was the first player to achieve a total of 1,000 hits and also served as captain, is not included in the team’s plans for next season.
Ginji is 35 years old from Iwate Prefecture.
His specialty is skillful bat control, and in 2013 he posted a .317 batting average, contributing to the team’s first title in Japan.
After that, he led the team as captain and became the first player on the team to achieve 1,000 hits in total.
This season, he only appeared in six games and had just one hit.
Under these circumstances, it was learned through interviews with related parties that Ginji, who has devoted himself to Rakuten and had a total of 1,239 hits in 2018, is no longer part of the team’s plans for next season.
According to sources, the team has contacted Ginji, who wishes to continue his active career, to join the team’s front office.
In addition, Rakuten has informed Ginjiro Sumiya, a former catcher who has been a professional for 18 years, that he will not sign a contract for next season.
Sumiya joined Seibu in the first round of the 2006 high school draft, transferred to the Giants as a free agent, and then joined Rakuten in a trade midway through the season two years ago.
This season, he played in 65 games and had a .221 batting average.
According to the team, a job has been prepared for Sumiya, but he would like to continue as an active player.
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