A pitcher with 24 consecutive wins who nurtured Sasaki's dream of being a 'baseball boy

The “legend” Masahiro Tanaka (35) of the Rakuten Eagles and the “monster pitcher” Roki Sasaki (22) of the Chiba Lotte Marines are aces representing the “past” and “present” of Japanese professional baseball. Tanaka appeared in 27 games in 2013 and recorded 24 wins and 1 save and an average ERA of 1.27, leading Rakuten to its first championship. The Japan Series opponent was the Yomiuri Giants. He had a 100% winning rate and performed like a lie and entered the major leagues.

He won 78 wins with the New York Yankees and 117 wins with Rakuten, leaving 5 wins to 200 wins in the United States and Japan. In 2011 and 2013, he won three wins, earned run average, and winning percentage, and received the Sawamura Award in the same year. Tanaka, who returned to Rakuten in 2021, has stagnated over the past two years. He started this year in the away opener against the Nippon Ham Fighters. 토토사이트 As he entered his mid-thirties, he lost his prowess during his prime, but he is still a living 'legend' representing the team.

Sasaki throws a fastball at 160 km/h. He is the best pitcher in Japanese professional baseball that needs no explanation. Until last year, 164km was the highest speed, but this season, he shot 165km several times. It is the highest velocity recorded by a Japanese player by Shohei Ohtani (29, LA Angels) during his days with the Nippon Ham Fighters.

In his fourth year as a pro, his first full-time season, Sasaki made a leap forward to become a true ace. He finished the first half in the Pacific League with the highest earned run average (1.48) - strikeouts (121) - winning percentage (0.778). He surpassed Orix Buffaloes right-hander Yamamoto Yoshinobu (25), who won the quadruple crown for the second consecutive year.

Tanaka and Sasaki took the mound side by side in the first leg of the 2023 All-Star Game held at the Nagoya Dome on the 19th. Sasaki started the Pacific League All-Star Team and pitched a scoreless inning, and Tanaka pitched as the third pitcher after Sasaki and Yamamoto to record a scoreless inning.

Shingu Ace of the Japanese professional baseball team had a joint interview through Asahi TV in Japan. It was a conversation that took place at the stadium during the All-Star Game.

The two were linked through many ties. In 2005, Rakuten was founded in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, the center of Tohoku, in the northeast region of Honshu, the main island of Japan. Sasaki was born and raised in Iwate Prefecture, in the same Tohoku region, near Miyagi Prefecture. To Sasaki, a baseball boy, Tanaka, the ace of his hometown team, was a special player. Sasaki said, "I've longed for Tanaka-senpai since I started watching baseball. I still have Rakuten's #18 Tanaka-senpai uniform." He also said, "I nurtured my dream of becoming a professional baseball player in 2013 by watching Tanaka-senpai win 24 consecutive victories."

Miyagi Prefecture and Iwate Prefecture were the areas most affected by the Tohoku Earthquake that occurred in March 2011. At this time, Sasaki suffered the loss of his grandparents and father. The Nippon Baseball Organization (NPB) held Game 3 of the All-Star Game on July 23, 2012 in Iwate. It was to comfort and encourage the residents of the Tohoku region. About 2,400 children from the affected areas were invited, and Sasaki was also there. Sasaki cheered for Tanaka from the outfield stands at the Iwate Prefectural Stadium where the match was held. He said, "Throwing