SoftBank Hawks catcher Yuda Yamamoto, who joined the team via a trade from the DeNA BayStars, addressed his new teammates during a pre-practice huddle. “I don’t know my left from my right yet, but I appreciate your support,” he said with a humble tone.
Right after, his former BayStars teammate Daiga Kamichatani stepped forward, acting as a self-appointed guardian. Channeling his inner general manager, Kamichatani joked, “His passion for baseball is not just double or triple—it’s eight times stronger or more. I’m confident he’ll contribute to the team.” The lighthearted moment drew laughter from the squad.
Kamichatani had also sent a long LINE message the day before, giving Yamamoto a rundown on the Hawks. “He told me the differences from the BayStars, especially how tough the travel is for away games,” Yamamoto said gratefully. “I’ll need to get used to that.”
