Oh Seung-hwan's home team has a aftermath of the appointment of an unconventional coach...Head Coach - 2nd Army Manager Job shortage
Oh Seung-hwan's home team has a aftermath of the appointment of an unconventional coach...Head Coach - 2nd Army Manager Job shortage
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The prestigious Hanshin Tigers of the Japanese Professional Baseball (NPB) seem to be suffering from the aftermath of an unconventional head coach change.
Japanese media reported that Fujikawa Kyuji, who has no experience as a leader, is struggling to select coaching staff.
Japanese media "Nippon Gendai Digital" reported 16 as "Hanshin, who appointed Fujikawa Kyuji as the head coach, is having difficulty in carving the head coach and the second-tier coach."
The Hanshin club officially announced the appointment of Fujikawa Kyuzi as its first-team coach on its official website on the 14th. At the end of the contract of Akinobu Okada, who was born in 1957, he took the helm of Fujikawa, the team's legend.
Okada led Hanshin to the top of the Japan Series in 2023 for the first time in 38 years. As an active player, he tasted the first Japanese Series championship (1985) in Hanshin's history and lifted another trophy as a coach.
Hanshin advanced to the climax series in 2024 under Okada's leadership. However, the team collapsed in the first stage with two consecutive losses to Yokohama, ending the season intact.
The Hanshin club made a bold decision to leave Fujikawa with the baton instead of accompanying veteran coach Okada, who has been through a series victory in Japan.
Fujikawa, born in 1980, was selected by Hanshin as the first choice in the 1998 NPB draft. He gained reputation as a right-handed fireballer closing pitcher who represents Japanese baseball by banking on his fastballs with speeds around the mid-150km range. In total, he recorded 60 wins, 38 losses and 243 saves with 163 holds and an ERA of 2.08 in 782 games through NPB's total. Except for the period (2013-2015), he always pitched in Hanshin jerseys.
Fujikawa is familiar to Korean baseball fans as well. He allowed Lee Jong-beom a two-run double in the second round of the 2006 World Baseball Classic finals, and Lee Jin-young a timely hit in the semifinals of the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
After his retirement, Fujikawa worked as a YouTube channel manager, baseball commentator and critic. In March, he visited Gocheok Sky Dome to cover the official opening Seoul Series of the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres 2024 Major League Baseball in Korea. 먹튀검증
At an official press conference after Hanshin's inauguration, Fujikawa said he does not mind the fact that he had no experience as a coach. However, the selection of coaching staff, who will work with him starting next year, seems not to be easy, contrary to the expectations of the club.
"Hanshin originally had a plan to recruit outside coaches for the 2025 season and appoint famous players from the team for the second division," said "Nippon Gendai Digital." "We listed Yosuke Hirai, who was the head coach for the Seibu Lions until this season, and Shinya Miyamoto, who has experience as the head coach for the Yakult Swallows, but the recruitment did not come true."
"According to multiple sports media, Hanshin may assist Fujimoto Atsushi, the infield defense base coach, and Nomura Katsunori, the second-tier battery coach, as the 'double head coach' or may not have a head coach," he reported.
Hanshin is one of the most popular teams in the NPB. Oh Seung-hwan, a living legend of the Samsung Lions, played for the club from 2014 to 2015. Oh garnered a 1.76 ERA with two wins, four losses and 39 saves and five holds in 64 games in the 2014 season, and secured the title of "relief king." He had previously broken the record of most saves in a season when a foreign pitcher debuted as an NPB pitcher.