He gave a tiny smile as he put on his No. 1 Indians uniform. His pursuit for the major leagues has finally begun. It is a long climb up into the majors when you start in the rookie league and pass through the single, double and triple A leagues. It will be demanding, but Nakamura shows he is prepared for the test when he says, “I'm going to give everything over these three years.”

He stands 195cm tall and weighs 90kg. He has a huge right arm, which delivers 149 km/h straight pitches and curveballs from his unusually tall frame for a Japanese. He only registered one victory in the Tokyo University league, but it was his size and potential that caught the eye of the Indians.

He was invited by Indian scouts after a spring league game last May. Having always held a dream of becoming a pro, while showing surprise, he couldn't hide his joy. “Really? Great! Excellent!” He decided to try out for the major leagues when he wasn't picked by any of the Japanese pro baseball franchises in the autumn draft. “You only live once and I don't want to have any regrets.”

Nakamura says he was nervous and had his doubts, but was supported by former Giants pitcher, Coach Yoshimasa Takahashi who told him to give it a go. He also found strength with support from his parents.

Nakamura was born in Shinagawa, Tokyo and started playing baseball in his first year at primary school. His first position was pitcher and by the time he reached the sixth grade, he was already 183cm tall. He was pitcher for his junior high school team, and as the starter in his first year at high school, he pitched his team into the final 16 of the autumn municipal tournament.

“Until then, I never thought I could play baseball at university or as a pro. After making the final 16 in Tokyo, universities started approaching me.”

But at high school he was prone to injury and was selected by the Chuo University baseball club. After entering the club, he started practicing everyday and now comments, “We only practiced three times a week at high school, so university training was strenuous.” He soon realized the gap in strength between himself and other players, and gave himself self-encouragement with the thought, “I must train more than everybody else...”

Looking back on his university years, Nakamura says, “It felt frustrating.” There were times when he couldn't pitch in games. In the summer of his third year, he couldn't condition himself in the pre-season and confided with teammates, “I don't know what to do. Baseball is tough.” “They cheered me up by saying that I would come into my own in the fourth year, and I got over it by crying my eyes out.”

Most players in the rookie league originate from South America, and Spanish is the main language spoken. Not knowing the language and a new lifestyle, Nakamura says with a smile, “I do have my worries. But I'll be alright...if I go out for a few drinks with my teammates after training.” At the moment he has no intentions of returning to Japan and is looking forward to the challenge. His favorite saying is: Perseverance gives you strength. Holding those words close to his chest, on March 6th, carrying a hope pinned to him to become the first major leaguer from Chuo University and full of spirit, Nakamura left for America.

(Mochizuki)