Received offers from multiple Japanese teams, but chose a US minor contract
“Are you still doing it in America?” Many people think that it is a waste that the slugger, who served as No. 4 for Samurai Japan in the 2017 WBC, is smoldering in the minors at the age of 31. I feel that the Japanese team is no exception.
“I was very grateful for the offer, and I received an offer from a Japanese team.
Several teams have invited him to return to Japan, but Yoshitomo Tsutsugo chose a minor contract with the Rangers in 2023.
“Ever since I was little, I have had a goal and a dream to be active in the United States, so I don’t feel like giving up easily. There was a problem.’ But that wasn’t the case.In my mind, there is no deviation from the axis of continuing to challenge in the United States, and it is the best choice for me.”
This season, which will be his fourth year in the United States, he will participate in spring training as an invited player. Survival to win a major contract. Nothing is guaranteed. Some people see him as having a hard time, including three seasons where he hasn’t achieved the results he expected, but Tsutsugo himself feels a little differently.
“Compared to Japan, the environment may be tougher, but I don’t feel that it is tiring or depressing. I also made a discovery.I am not in a hurry at all, and I do not know what will happen in the future.I am thinking so that I can pull the present (counting backwards) from the future I envisioned.”
Although he has reached the stage of his dreams, he is not yet active. What should I do to become a hitter who can compete with famous pitchers in the major leagues? The challenges to be solved are large, but the effort spent for growth is not painful.