The Wall to Becoming a Regular. The Trial Faced by Yazawa. 8/7 Fighters Review

■ Yazawa's At-Bat Entrusted with a Rare Opportunity

August 7th, against the Seibu Lions. The Fighters' lineup fell silent before the relay of Imai, Kaino, and Taira. With only 2 hits and 0 runs, it was a game where they couldn't get anything going—
If you put it that way, that's all there is to it, but there was indeed a "turning point" that visited that day.

Top of the 4th, bases loaded with no outs. Kota Yazawa was in the batter's box. What was expected of him, with his speed, was some kind of "advancement," even if it wasn't an extra-base hit. However, the result was a double play. The stadium buzzed.

However, there was an "invisible element" to that play.Immediately after hitting the ball, Yazawa was running inside the baseline, so he veered outward to avoid colliding with the throw.
That "bulge" and deceleration in that moment created a subtle timing discrepancy, leading to the double play. Considering his own leg speed, it was truly a razor-thin margin.

■ Defense That Almost Reached, and the Centimeters That Couldn't Be Bridged

The defense in the bottom of the 8th also left a similar sense of "what could have been." From his position in right field, Yazawa reacted quickly to a sharp hit. His speed was sufficient, and he was heading toward the landing point. But he couldn't make the catch. That hit, which became a single, triggered three consecutive hits and the winning run.

It was certainly a play where one might say "if only he had caught that." Reaching it at all was already a fine play.
But precisely because he possesses the ability that makes one feel "Yazawa might have caught that," the step he couldn't quite reach feels even heavier.

There are things that cannot be compensated for by speed or reaction alone. Positioning by a few centimeters, the judgment made on every play—all of it becomes the boundary between safe and out—it makes one realize once again the severity of the professional world.

■ The "Other Role" Entrusted to a Bench Starter

On this day, Yazawa started on the bench. But that does not mean he is a substitute. Baseball is not a sport that can be won by the nine starters alone.

Due to an accident involving Go Matsumoto, he was suddenly called into the game from the bottom of the 2nd inning. Entering the game midway through the early stages is a difficult situation where one is expected to produce results immediately without being fully prepared.

Even so, the fact that the turn "came to Yazawa" is significant.Opportunities do not come to those who are not prepared.That fact itself speaks volumes about how he is viewed.

■ How to Transform the Regret of What Couldn't Be Bridged into the Next Step

In this game, every playing opportunity given to Yazawa was in a situation that affected the outcome. It didn't lead to a result, but I would like to believe that the fact it came his way was not a coincidence.

At-bats, defense, base running. How he accepts each one and how he changes for the next. Beyond the effort to bridge the few centimeters that were lacking, the next opportunity will come again.

How will he sublimate that regret? I feel that is where his value as a player will become visible.

Just like Yazawa in this article, various trials will come to each and every player.
Beyond overcoming them, "victory" should come into view.