Rakuten Watanabe Naoto Infielder and 1st Army Strike Coach (39), who announced his retirement from active duty this season, held a meeting in Sendai City on the 13th.

He appeared in uniform. “I would like to report that Naoto Watanabe has decided to retire from his active career. I would like to express my gratitude to all the people who have supported me to continue playing baseball until now. Thank you very much.”

The reason for the decision was: “I am still in the middle of the season, so I am grateful for creating a place for this type of retirement announcement for me, but I want to make a break within myself, so I will announce it in this moment. Half the season has passed and I have no chance to participate, that’s the most decisive factor, and as a coach I want to be better, I want to be an active part of the game. I was wondering, but I’m really happy that the success of The young players and the players in the game has made me very happy, helping the young players to grow and seeing the desperate faces of the young players. I felt that I was a different player, so I decided. “

I had already decided that I would retire when I was done. “I’m still practicing to get better. I love baseball so I haven’t gotten to the point where I have. I still want to get better,” he said candidly. Finally, it is my dream to wear a Rakuten uniform and retire. I think I’m happy. I’m here because I grew up when I joined the group and I was young. I always wanted to give back one day. It was the same as it was originally, and even after I moved to another team, when I played for Sendai, I received a lot of applause, and that enthusiasm… “He obstructed me and moistened my eyes.

The bouquet was gifted by Goro Okajima and infielder Eito Asamura as a surprise.

◆ Naoto Watanabe Born in Ibaraki Prefecture on October 15, 1980 (Showa 55). After working at Ushihisa-Josai University-Mitsubishi Fuso Kawasaki, he joined Rakuten in 2006 in the fifth round of the college / worker draft. Transferred to Yokohama in December 2010 to trade money. In July 2013, he was transferred to Seibu in an exchange with pitcher Shuichiro Nagata. In 2017, Seibu was off duty and returned to Rakuten. He is also serving as a hitting coach this season. He reached the prescribed seats in 2007-09 and 2011. He participated in the All-Stars in 2011. 173 cm, 73 kg. Right handed. The estimated annual salary for this season is 20 million yen.