The original Japanese article was in the April “Monthly Tigers” Magazine.
Let’s Ask His Teammates!
Pitcher Yuya Andoh
Q. What is Messenger really like?
Just what you see. He’s really cheerful.
Q. Fill in the blank. “Surprisingly, Messenger is actually ______.”
Hmmm… there is nothing really surprising about him (laughs).
Q. What is it about Messenger that you think is awesome?
He’s got awesome potential as a pitcher. He throws hard, has a good curve and forkball.
Q. What does Messenger like?
He’s American, so I’d have to say he probably really loves his family. That and ramen. He likes his noodles.
Q. Give us the dirt on Messenger. Has he got any secrets?
Nothing that I can say on the record (laughs).
Q. Give Messenger a score (out of 5) on these areas: 1) Keeping his locker clean; 2) Sense of fashion; 3) Japanese ability
1) Five. His locker is tidy. Nothing just laying around. It might be rude to say this, but for a man of his size he really pays close attention to details. 2) I can’t get away with giving him a 3, so we’ll just say he’s a 5 (laughs). 3) Maybe two? He speaks a few words of Japanese here and there.
Q. Fill in the blank. “Messenger is the biggest ______ on the team.”
Ramen lover! (laughs)
Q. What would you compare Messenger to?
He’s kind of changed his look this year with his hairstyle. I’d say he looks like a big bear (laughs).
Q. What Chinese character (kanji) would you attribute to Messenger?
“BIG” (大)
Pitcher Shintaro Fujinami
Q. What is Messenger really like?
He likes to mess around a lot. Like many foreigners, he’s really cheerful and energetic.
Q. Fill in the blank. “Surprisingly, Messenger is actually ______.”
He might look a little sketchy or rough around the edges but actually he’s pretty detail-oriented. He’s got a set routine when it comes to baseball, and pays close attention to small adjustments.
Q. What is Messenger’s habit?
When he gets annoyed on the mound, he’ll catch the catcher’s toss-back barehanded (laughs).
Q. What are some things Messenger often says in Japanese?
He complains a lot. When the drills at camp aren’t to his liking, he would say “jikan tsubushi” or “jikan no muda” (waste of time!) (laughs).
Q. What is it about Messenger that you think is awesome?
He’s really stoic when it comes to baseball. Well, in other aspects of life as well, but especially when it comes to baseball. I really admire that.
Q. Anything about Messenger that you wish he’d stop doing?
He likes to muck around but he doesn’t know his own strength and sometimes it hurts! (laughs)
Q. What does Messenger like?
He watches martial arts (combat sports) a lot. Oh, and ramen.
Q. What is Messenger’s weakness?
Good question… he’s a big man but he doesn’t hate running… Oh, he said udon was kind of like rubber (laughs). I don’t know if he hates it, but when I asked if he wanted to eat some, he said, “It’s too rubbery, no thanks.” (laughs)
Q. Give us the dirt on Messenger. Has he got any secrets?
He’s got some that I can’t tell you, but there’s nothing that I *can* tell you. Oh well I guess at the start of camp, he said he had only gained 2 kilograms but obviously he gained more than that (laughs).
Q. Fill in the blank. “Messenger is the biggest ______ on the team.”
He’s just the biggest, period. Even from my perspective.
Q. What is the most charming thing about Messenger?
He’s got a real youthful personality. It might sound weird coming from me since I’m a lot younger than him (20 years old), but he is definitely rambunctious!
Q. What would you compare Messenger to?
He looks like a bear.
Q. What Chinese character (kanji) would you attribute to Messenger?
A. “Giant” (巨)
That was nice to hear what his team mates think of him. He is a big teddy bear he is as sweet on the field as he is off & all he does is spend hi time with his family. I talk to them all the time. Last night as a matter of fact ( my night lol)