Irokawa GM “If you train in the best condition, you can throw 160 kg.”
A 23-year-old unnamed Japanese crosses the sea and challenges the major leagues. Route-in BC League Ibaraki Astro Planets announced on the 17th that pitcher Yasushi Matsuda, who has just finished his first year, has signed a minor contract with the Dodgers. He pitched only three games last season and is currently rehabilitating his right elbow. Why did the Dodgers acquire the right arm, which did not leave outstanding results even during the Takushoku era? Behind the dream ticket was the “strategy” of BC Ibaraki / Touma Irokawa GM.
Irokawa GM first saw Matsuda at the BC League Joint Tryout held two years ago. At Takushoku University, he wasn’t famous for pitching in only one league match, but he felt the talent to go to the majors immediately.
“I was throwing about 144 kg in the tryout, but I felt that I could throw 160 kg normally if I trained in the best condition.”
That premonition is right. After joining the team, the ball speed increased under the guidance of pitcher coach Takumu Oyamada, “Don’t throw too much.” He measured 155 kilometers in the opening game and took three consecutive strikeouts in the exchange game with the Giants 3 Army on April 16th last year. It was a good throw that attracted the attention of NPB scouts, but a tragedy struck during the match.
GM Irokawa recalls, “During the match, I heard from him that his elbow hurts. (Throwing) I’m trying to make one inning …”. Initially, he tried to recover by PRP therapy in which platelet-rich plasma collected from his own blood was injected into the affected area. However, his symptoms did not improve, and he underwent medial collateral ligament reconstruction (Tommy John surgery) on his right elbow in July.
Entering NPB for college graduates from independent leagues is already a high hurdle. It gets even more difficult when you have surgery. “When I actually had surgery, I almost lost contact with NPB scouts,” said GM Irokawa. On the other hand, I was convinced that MLB would make a forward-looking contract.
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