Togo Shosei (25) achieved his first victory of the season just two months after the opening. He endured 6 innings with 2 earned runs against the Yakult Swallows on the 25th. The score was 5-2.

He is regarded as a future ace of the Yomiuri Giants, a right-handed pitcher who throws in the mid-150 km range. He debuted in 2019 and has achieved around 10 wins each year (career record: 55 wins, 35 losses, ERA 2.75).

He participated as a representative of Japan in the 2023 World Baseball Classic (WBC). He also set a remarkable record of a no-hitter no-run game in May 2024. He is indeed a star player walking a solid path.

However, this year has not been promising. Since the opening, he has been unable to escape a deep slump. In six starts, he managed only 4 losses. His ERA rose to 7.52. Amidst this, he finally secured a victory.

As a result, attention turned to his post-game interview. With a flushed face, he shared these thoughts.

“The slump has been very long. I’ve experienced a lot of mental hardship during this time. Still, I want to thank the team leadership (coaches, etc.) for trusting me. I believe this victory is more valuable because of the pain. I will cherish this commemorative ball.”

There was a particularly difficult moment for him. It was April 11 of this year. He couldn't get past the 4th inning in a game against Hiroshima, losing a staggering 10 runs in just 3.1 innings. It was the worst pitching since joining the team.

Manager Abe Shinnosuke was furious. He had to pack his bags immediately. It was a demotion to the second team. It was a frustration he had never experienced before.

“Many people reached out to me. They offered me comforting words. I spoke with my senior, Sugano Tomoyuki (35), who is in the United States, for over an hour. He told me not to change anything and just to keep doing what I normally do.”

Then he unexpectedly mentioned a name. Trevor Bauer (34).

These are the words of Togo Shosei.

“I received a DM. At first, I thought it was someone playing a prank. But it was really him. The message was in English. ‘You’re not that kind of pitcher. Don’t hang your head. You’re definitely a great pitcher.’ That’s how it was written.”

Bauer plays for a different team. He is with the Yokohama DeNA BASS. In a way, he is a competitor. They are in a position to compete for rankings in the same (Central) League. Nevertheless, he sent an encouraging message.

Moreover, his character is not easy to handle. He has a strong bad boy image and is often mentioned in various negative contexts. It was surprising that such a person offered warm, kind, and caring words of encouragement.

Reporters immediately flocked to him. They asked for the details. As expected, a cool response followed.

“Was it two years ago? I first met (Togo) Shosei during the All-Star Game. I have been keeping an eye on his pitching style since then (I've respected him).”

Bauer's explanation continued.

“It’s something every pitcher experiences. I’ve had similar situations many times. It’s common to struggle after giving up a large number of runs. But there’s no need to. Everyone is cheering for you, and I wanted to convey that feeling too. That’s why I decided to send the message.”

‘What are the details?’ ‘Why didn’t you warn us about this beforehand?’ Bauer shook his head at these reporters' questions.

“That’s a personal matter. It’s difficult to reveal the contents. And this isn’t the first time I’ve done this. Not very often, but I occasionally send DMs to my teammates. I feel sorry for players going through tough times or being unfairly criticized.”

He has become accustomed to being criticized and pointed at. Perhaps that’s why he empathizes even more. Anyway, it’s fortunate to uncover that there are some pretty cool aspects to ‘bad boy’ Bauer.

Returning to NPB after a year, he has recorded 2 wins and 3 losses with an ERA of 3.93 in 8 games this season.

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