Read the Japanese Version in Daily Sports
The offseason is almost over! We can watch baseball again, Tigers fans! And for those who missed it, the team signed four new American players to the roster: infielder Justin Bour (Angels), outfielder Jerry Sands (KBO Kiwoom Heroes), and pitchers Joe Gunkel (Marlins) and Jon Edwards (Indians). They also picked up Robert Suarez from the SoftBank Hawks, and retained the services of Onelki Garcia, Jefry Marte, and Yen-Ching Lu.
Despite the struggles that some foreigners have had in recent years, I am excited and optimistic about their arrival. But at the same time, I am also a bit apprehensive. For any of you who have ventured out of your homeland and moved to a new place, you know how unsettling the move and adjustment period can be. There are lots of things that are hard to understand and accept. They tell us that when in Rome, we are to do as the Romans do. But what to do if we can’t understand the Romans?
Thankfully, the Hanshin Tigers have a capable team of interpreters that will help these guys out. On top of that, they have arranged for American-based team scouts Jeff Williams and Andy Sheets to come to camp in Okinawa to help break them in. Good move, but is it enough? Will the guys feel properly welcomed?
I look at how things have unfolded this past offseason on the other side of the pond. Most recently, the Cincinnati Reds have signed Shogo Akiyama (OF, Seibu) on. They became the last organization to have a Japanese-born player on their roster, but they still did what they could to make him feel welcome.
The Toronto Blue Jays did the same for Shun Yamaguchi (RHP, Yomiuri).
The Tampa Bay Rays also extended a full welcome to Yoshitomo Tsutsugo (OF, Yokohama).
Heck, the Washington Wizards took it one step further after they drafted Rui Hachimura last summer: they hired Zac Ikuma as digital correspondent. The team now has a Japanese Twitter account, website, and weekly podcast.
Why do they go to such lengths? Surely you are perceptive enough to know that it is wise marketing. Tweet in Japanese, show a ton of enthusiasm about the new guys, and watch the Japanese fans flock to games and buy a ton of merchandise. A TV deal could follow, especially if the guys show signs of succeeding.
Now, I understand that the NPB almost never welcomes top-level American talent over… though Adam Jones (Orix) and Geraldo Parra (Yomiuri) are household names in the USA! Still, why is it that these Japanese clubs do not have a proper team of English social media directors to try to mine the American market for a few extra yen? I can guarantee you that the Bours, Sands, Gunkels and Edwards are thirsting for information about their boys. Not to mention core fans from each of their previous teams!
Let’s also not forget that this is the year the Olympics come to Japan, and the focus of the whole world is on this nation. There should (and will) be a greater focus on Japanese baseball from all around the world, particularly if Team Japan wins a gold medal.
The fact of the matter is, some of the family members of our new guys have already reached out to me on social media. And while I am glad to help them out and make their acquaintance, the team really needs to do a better job of acknowledging that these guys are moving into a completely new environment, away from everything (and everyone) familiar to them, and deserve the extra coverage in English.
And – you guessed it – I know just the man for the job!