[Fukuoka SoftBank: Shimabukuro, Pitcher, Chuo University]

At 18:37, cheers of jubilation arose from the audience when Shimabukuro’s name was read over the television monitor. This moment marked the beginning of a career in professional baseball for Yosuke Shimabukuro, captain of the Chuo University Baseball Team.

A news conference was held by Chuo University in the medium-sized auditorium of C Square on the Tama Campus. Approximately 350 people gathered at the venue, including fans, students and members of the baseball team.

Athletes are plunged into professional baseball after being selected in the draft meeting. Which player will join which team? This is an important day for many people associated with baseball.

The draft meeting began at 17:00 in Tokyo. The draft meeting was broadcast on a large television monitor at the Chuo University venue. Numerous fans, television reporters and newspaper reporters held their breath in anticipation. Reporters even came from pitcher Shimabukuro’s hometown in Okinawa.

October 23rd was also the final day for games of the Tohto University Autumn Baseball League. After the last game, an awards ceremony was held to honor outstanding players at each position. Fukuda and Shimabukuro hurried to C Square from Jingu Stadium, carrying their aspirations with them.

The first round began with a selection by Yakult, the last-place team in the Central League. Selected in quick succession were pitcher Tomohiro Anraku (Saibi Senior High School), who gave an outstanding performance at Koshien Stadium, pitcher Kohei Arihara (Waseda University), who was the ace pitcher at Jingu Stadium, and pitcher Yasuaki Yamasaki (Asia University).

First round selections were finished at 17:35. The names “Shimabukuro” and “Fukuda” had yet to be called.

At 17:56, selections for the second round began with Pacific League champion SoftBank. The audience at Chuo University cheered for Shimabukuro’s name to be called.

Each time the name of another player was read, cries of disbelief could be heard from the audience. “That pitcher hardly every pitched in a game!” “What?! Why would they select him?”—A pitcher who was injured after entering the Tohto League and only pitched in two games during his third year was selected earlier than the Chuo players. Baseball insiders stared at the television monitor with dubious expressions.

Second round selections were finished at 18:03.

The third round began at 18:07. Finally, the announcement “Rakuten: Masayoshi Fukuda, Outfielder, Chuo University” was heard at 18:20. Shimabukuro’s teammate Fukuda, who was a second batter for the Chuo baseball team, had been selected. Fukuda had just arrived at C Square from Jingu Stadium only one minute prior to the announcement.

The audience cheered and applauded. A joint press conference and individual interviews were held for Fukuda.

Tears of joy

As selections began for the fifth round, a press conference was being held at the Chuo University venue for outfielder Fukuda. It was then that SoftBank’s selection of pitcher Shimabukuro was announced. Cheers of joy arose from baseball team members and officials. Everyone in the venue had been waiting for this moment.

It had been a long wait. One hour and thirty seven minutes had passed since the beginning of the draft meeting. After a short while, lefty ace pitcher Shimabukuro appeared and a joint press conference started. Tears could be seen in captain Shimabukuro’s eyes as he sat down behind the microphones.

“It was a relief to hear my name called. I had been preparing myself for the worst imaginable situation.”

It seems that Shimabukuro had almost given up on being selected in the draft. On his right wrist was his good luck charm—two Buddhist rosaries sent from Okinawa.

While attending Konan Senior High School in Okinawa, Shimabukuro’s team became the sixth school in history to win consecutive championships at the spring and summer Koshien Tournaments. Shimabukuro faced high expectations at university and pitched in the opening spring league game as a first-year player. However, his final collegiate record was 12 wins and 20 losses.

“I wasn’t able to pitch winning baseball during my four years at university,” reflected Shimabukuro. “However, I learned a lot during that time. It was a very fulfilling four years. I am thrilled to have been selected by a team which just competed in the Japan Series. It’s an indescribable feeling.”

No one felt greater joy at the selection than student coach Kai Ketashiro, who has been like a brother to Shimabukuro since they were children. Ketashiro wept bitterly over with joy in his seat at the venue when Shimabukuro’s name was called.

Ketashiro’s father had taught baseball to the two boys. At the 2010 Koshien Summer Tournament, Ketashiro produced hit after hit to a batting average of .579. He was the leading batter for the tournament. The combination of Shimabukuro’s pitching and Ketashiro’s batting brought the school consecutive championships at the spring and summer Koshien Tournaments.

“After I was selected, Kai ran up to me with tears of joy in his eyes,” revealed Shimabukuro. Student coach Ketashiro celebrated his friend’s accomplishment as if it was his own—such friendship is enough to make one jealous.

Ketashiro will continue his university studies and acquire teaching certification. He hopes to coach high school baseball in the future.

In response to the selection of captain Shimabukuro, baseball team members could be seen high-fiving and hugging each other in a frenzy of joy. Everyone was thrilled. The exultation showed how much the team loved their captain.

On the conference podium, Shimabukuro and Fukuda were raised on the shoulders of their teammates, and then thrown into the air in jubilation. The celebration ended with a commemorative photograph of the baseball team. It was the last photograph that they would ever take together.

At 20:10, someone shouted for calling for a final meeting of players. Everyone responded quickly.

Captain Shimabukuro addressed the team for the last time: “It’s getting cold, so don’t catch a cold. Make sure you get the sleep you need. We may be leaving the team, but we will always be cheering for you.”

Yosuke Shimabukuro will now begin his career as a professional baseball player. Seemingly unconcerned with the round in which he was selected, Shimabukuro appeared to be genuinely happy to have his dream come true. We hope to see the same smile many times while he plays for the first team of Fukuoka SoftBank.

Student Reporter: Ryoji Nakamura (2nd-year student, Faculty of Commerce)

Third selection by Rakuten: Fukuda fulfills his dream in autumn

Ever since he was a young child, Fukuda had dreamed of becoming a professional baseball player. The moment that his name was called in the draft, everyone in attendance at the Chuo University venue was present.

“I’m so relieved!” responded Fukuda amicably at the subsequent press conference and personal interviews. “I’m thrilled at what I have accomplished.” Tears of joy swelled in his eyes.

Fukuda’s parents came from Sammu City in Chiba Prefecture and were quickly surrounded by reporters. After their son was selected in the draft, the proud parents were quickly thrust into the limelight.

Although Fukuda was smiling, his heart filled with hesitation and complicated emotions.

Fukuda was concerned for captain Shimabukuro of the Chuo University Baseball Team. Although the lefty pitcher also hoped to enter professional baseball, his name had yet to be called.

At that instant, Shimabukuro’s name was called on the television monitor. Upon hearing of his teammate being selected, Fukuda cried almost as hard as Shimabukuro himself. The outpouring of emotion showed the value of teammates and friendship.

Fukuda’s performance in the autumn league put him ahead of the ace pitcher in the eyes of pro teams.

Fukuda had always felt confident about base running and fielding thanks to his speed and strong throwing arm. However, his batting was lackluster. Starting from the summer season, Fukuda gradually increased his amount of practice. He practiced on his own even after team trainings had ended. Fukuda now took 1,000 swings per day—five times the amount he took in the springtime. He continued this intensive practice regimen every day.

Fukuda maintained a batting average above .300 in the Tohto University Autumn Baseball League. It was the first time that he ever achieved such numbers. His twenty hits were a personal record, up from his previous best of thirteen. He also increased a home run by two from zero of his collegiate career. These career records resulted in his second selection for the Best Nine Years. It was a truly fulfilling autumn season.

Bloom where you are planted

While on reporting assignment at the Chuo University venue, I was told the following by a school official. “For Fukuda and Shimabukuro, today’s press conference is like an unofficial job offer ceremony.” It was then that I realized that being drafted by a professional team is akin to normal students receiving an unofficial job offer.

Personally, I am a fourth-year student and I still remember when I first received an unofficial job offer. Just like Fukuda and Shimabukuro, I cried when I received an offer from my first-choice corporation.

Immediately after being drafted, a teary-eyed Fukuda spoke of his resolve toward taking on the next challenge of playing professional. As I watched this scene unfold, I remember that I cried with joy upon receiving an unofficial job offer, and the same tears contained my resolve toward succeeding in a turbulent working society. I felt satisfied regarding the similarities between being drafted and receiving a job offer.

Professional baseball revolves at a cycle which is faster than normal working society. Although the two Chuo athletes had fulfilled their dream, there was no time for them to feel at ease. In professional baseball, high school graduates have about five years and university graduates have about three years to show they can perform before incurring the risk of being discharged. The clock was already ticking for Fukuda and Shimabukuro.

Major leaguer Ichiro was drafted in the fourth round by Orix, but his subsequent outstanding achievements are now common knowledge.

I hope that Shimabukuro and Fukuda will both become great players. I will also work my hardest to contribute in society. We must follow the saying, “bloom where you are planted.”

Student reporter: Rika Isaka (4th-year student at Faculty of Law)

Drafted in the seventh round by Chunichi

Also selected during the draft was Issei Endo (25), a Chuo University graduate currently playing in a baseball tournament between non-professional corporate teams.

Endo played at Komaba Gakuen High School before entering Chuo University. After graduation, he started playing for Tokyo Gas and has also represented Japan in the Asian Games. He contributed to his team advancing to the final four in the Intercity Baseball Tournament. Endo was selected as MVP during the 2013 National Series and the 2014 Intercity Baseball Tournament. He is viewed as having become a better player after graduating from university, and is expected to contribute immediately to Chunichi.