Masahiro Tanaka played in his first exhibition game of the spring yesterday, taking on the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters at the Eagles spring training home in Kin, Okanawa. He struck out the first batter then gave up a pair of singles before Sho Nakata came to the plate (and I love the juxtaposition of the kanji characters for the two player's names):
The three runs that scored on Nakata's home run were the only runs Tanaka allowed in his two innings of work. The Fighters went on to win the game 6-3. Tanaka's post-game comments were translated by Jim Allen and can be read here.
This week I thought I'd share a card I had showing Nakata's first ever spring training home run. He was a highly regarded prospect coming out of Osaka Toin high school, having set the record for most home runs hit by a high schooler with 87. The Fighters drafted him in the first round of the 2007 draft and all eyes were upon him during spring camp the following year. He ended up homering in the first at bat of his first game. This home run was featured on a card included by BBM in Sports Card Magazine #68. BBM must have an incredible turn around time because Nakata hit the home run on March 1st and the magazine was published at the end of the month.
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| 2008 SCM #96 |
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