Japan’s World Baseball Classic (WBC) national team’s ‘ace’ Darvish Yu (San Diego Padres) had a hard time in joint training with the Chunichi Dragons.
Darvish pitched live against Chunichi Dragons hitters at Vantelin Dome in Nagoya, Japan on the 2nd. According to multiple local media such as Japan’s ‘Full Count’ and ‘Nikkan Sports’, Darvish recorded 3 hits, 2 walks, 1 strikeout and 2 runs in 3 innings that day.
Darvish pitched in 30 games last year and pitched 194⅔ innings, recording 16 wins and 8 losses with a 3.10 ERA, the best season comparable to a career high. Darvish, who has never worn a national team uniform since advancing to the major leagues, will step on the WBC stage for the first time in 14 years since 2009.
Darvish, who has been active in the major leagues for 10 seasons, joined the national team camp held in Miyazaki, Japan under the consideration of the club and started preparing for the WBC along with the 2023 season. Darvish, who had been pitching live only against the Japanese national team, had a rare opportunity to face off against other teams. But the results were disastrous.
According to Japanese media outlets, Darvish faced Yuki Okabayashi, the first batter in the first inning. Okabayashi was the player who won the title for most hits in the Central League last year. However, an accident occurred here. Darvish’s 150km fastball hit Okabayashi’s right foot due to a jagged throw.
Hit by Darvish’s pitch, Okabayashi fell to his knees and fell to the ground, barely getting up. And it was only with the help of his teammates that he moved to the dugout. ‘Full Cout’ reported the situation, saying, “The local area was once upset by an unexpected situation.”
Darvish could hardly find stability even after giving up the hit ball to the first batter, and allowed 2 runs by allowing consecutive hits to Dayan Viciedo and Aristides Aquino, the 4th hitter from 1st, 1st and 2nd base, giving up a walk. Darvish, who threw 23 pitches in the first inning alone, suggested ending the inning himself.
He broke off an uneasy start, but found stability from the second inning. Darvish ended the second inning with a tripartite, and in the third inning, he allowed a hit to the lead batter, but finished the schedule by ending the inning without conceding a run. The total number of pitches was 50, marking a maximum of 153 km.스포츠토토
After the live pitching, Darvish said on his social media, “I was looking forward to a match with the Chunichi Dragons players, but I hit Okabayashi.” “I’m really sorry to the Chunichi fans. I hope,” he apologized. He also seemed quite upset. Regarding being hit by Viciedo in the first and second base crises in the first inning, he added, “I don’t remember confronting Viciedo.”
On the other hand, ‘Nikkan Sports’ said, “This is the third live pitching against a hitter since joining the Japanese national team. The next round will be the mound,” and “the selection is expected to be against Korea on the 10th.”