On June 16th, Cody Satterwhite met the press for the first time as a member of the Hanshin Tigers. Here is a brief translation of what the club released on the team’s official homepage.
Introduce yourself to us, and tell us what your game is like.
I’m Cody Satterwhite. I’m from Jackson, Mississippi in America. My pitches include a fastball, which I throw between 93 and 95 miles per hour (148-152 km/h). I also have a slider and a splitter, which I think is my best pitch.
What type of pitcher are you, and what are your strengths?
I think I have good control of my fastball. I think I’ll be able to throw well out of the bullpen. I think I’m able to throw confidently even in tough situations.
What is your impression of the Tigers organization?
I get the impression that this is a team with a long tradition and is used to winning. I also know they have a great fan base and good support.
What kind of role do you expect to have with the team? What kind of responsibilities do you want?
I want to get on the mound as quickly as I can and contribute to the team winning games. I hope I can get used to playing Japanese baseball as quickly as possible.
What is your impression of Japanese baseball? Which batters from the Premier 12 stand out to you, and what batters are you excited to face?
I don’t remember the names of the guys I faced in the Premier 12, but if I get a chance to face the guy who hit a grand slam against me (it was Nobuhiro Matsuda of the SoftBank Hawks), I want to strike him out next time. As for Japanese baseball, it seems like they really have the foundational aspects of the game down, and they play a very detailed game. Guys out on the field know the game really well.
Have you ever come to Japan before?
Just when I played in the Premier 12 tournament.
Did anything about Japanese culture really leave an impression on you?
I really liked the conveyor belt sushi places.
What did you eat there?
Shrimp, avocado, tuna…
Is there anything you like to eat to build up your strength before games?
I don’t really have any superstition or anything when it comes to pre-game food.
Do you have a nickname that you want fans in Japan to call you?
I don’t really have a nickname, so whatever the fans choose to call me is fine by me.
Any thoughts about what you might say or do on the hero’s podium to get the fans excited?
I can’t think of anything just yet, but I’ll give it some thought.
Have you spoken with manager Kanemoto since arriving in Japan?
No, I haven’t met him yet.
What is your impression of Marcos Mateo and Rafael Dolis, and your thoughts about pitching alongside those two?
I just want to give it my all and make the most of the opportunity I’ve been given, and other than that, I guess it will be a good competition between us. In the end, it’s the manager who decides if I play or not, so all I can do is give it my all. I can’t do anything more than that.
What is the reason behind your choice of the number 75?
There were other numbers available but I’ve always worn a multiple of 5 on my back. I like the number 5 so I chose 75.
Give your fans a word about what you hope to accomplish here.
Hopefully just help out the team. Hopefully we can win and go to the [Nippon] Series. I want to help the team any way I can.