Nippon-Ham’s Yuma Imagawa, super play shown in midfield defense
■ Rakuten 2-1 Nippon-Ham (18th, Sapporo Dome)
Nippon-Ham’s outfielder Yuma Imagawa has surprised fans with his unafraid catching of the ball. “This is obsession”, “Please don’t get hurt”, “Shinjo BIGBOSS who will do his best in both play and vocalization” to the midfielder who dashes hard from a fixed position and never lets go of the ball even if it crashes into the fence. It will make you feel a different star quality,” commented.
In the match against Rakuten held at the Sapporo Dome on the 18th, Asamura’s batted ball went up to the back screen after two deaths in the first inning. Imagawa, who started in center field, dashed to this ball from the back of the fixed position. He jumps in front of the fence and catches it well, then crashes into the fence and makes a turn. He fell to the ground but didn’t let go of the ball in his glove.
On the mound was Taikai Ito, a pitcher who joined the team at the same time. Perhaps he was relieved by the play that caught the long hit, he raised his hand in praise. “Persol Kanare no Pacific League TV”, which distributed the game, released a video up to this scene. Fans also responded, “I like the reaction that Ito believed in,” and “He’s a really fun player to watch.”