Lotte Takashi Toriya, a 39-year-old infielder who was enrolled in Hanshin until last season, also raced to Fujikawa’s retirement game. Watch the game at Koshien’s press seat. After watching the last boarding and ceremony, he said, “I felt the greatness of the ball boy. I will come to that day in the near future. I feel lonely for the ball boy and sometimes I think about it as I I overlap with myself. I’m so glad I was able to finish this way, “thought a senior a higher grade.

I just finished the last race of the season in Chiba on the night of the 9th the day before. On the 11th I will again participate in the practice in Chiba. “I wanted to see it. I was able to win because there was a ball boy. There were many games that I won. It is important to view the final appearance as a tribute to those who worked hard.” Even if I forced a long-distance round trip on a vacation, I wanted to burn the end of uniform number 22 in my eyes.

They are both members of the 2005 league title. He has supported the team for many years as a shooting star, and in 2012 he had a hard time as pitching captain and field captain. “It’s not about what people are like, it’s about sticking to your own details …”. I respected the way he continued to practice without getting carried away.

“I can win if I connect with JFK. As a fielder, I was fighting with the idea that I could win if I connected with him. That period was very memorable. That person quits. I feel alone.”

Immediately after the retirement announcement, they exchanged emotions that only the two of them could understand on LINE.

“The second life is longer. For both Hanshin and the world of ball, the existence of a ball child is irreplaceable. I hope we can do something together again in various ways.”

He will fight the CS Softbank match from the 14th. Returning to the battlefield feeling the tiger’s 22nd uniform.[Yosuke Sai]