Softbank 's Moinelo baseball "I still don't enjoy baseball practice. My coaches have only helped me hone my talent. Pacific League

Softbank ‘s Moinelo: “I still don’t enjoy baseball practice. My coaches have only helped me hone my talent.”

Sports Hochi

2025.9.28(日) 04:00

色紙を手にポーズを決めるモイネロ

Pacific League Seibu 1-4 Softbank (27th, Belluna Dome)

Softbank ‘s Liván Moinelo pitcher (29), who contributed to back-to-back league championships, wrote a memoir for Sports Hochi. In his second year as a starter, he has posted a career-high 12 wins (3 losses), his second consecutive double-digit season. The left-hander, who boasts a league-leading ERA 1.46 record, wrote about his life and his awareness of being a mainstay baseball in the lineup.

Thank you to all the fans for your support. This season we had a great rivalry with The Fighters. Everyone was focused, and the atmosphere was great. I think I did a great job too. It’s hard to choose a memorable pitching appearance, because most of them were close or low-scoring. We also played a lot against Nippon-Ham Fighters, and we were always up against good pitcher. Winning within that team’s strategy and pitching many inning was key. I think I was able to do what was expected of me.

People say that my expression doesn’t change whether I win or lose. I train for a week and only pitch for two hours. I prepare as best I can and increase my concentration. But that doesn’t mean it always works out, and I can’t immediately vent my frustration. I just have to prepare for the next game without being swayed by my emotions. It happens naturally, even without me realizing it.

It was different when I was fielder in Cuba. I got to bat every day and enjoyed the ups and downs of that. It was common for young Cuban players to play as fielder the day after pitching. I played first base or right field. The system was set up so pitcher’ aptitude was assessed in their late teens, and I decided to focus on pitching at the age of 17. Now I’m glad I became pitcher, but I don’t think I would have failed as hitter. If anything, I preferred hitting.

To begin with, when I was a boy, I played soccer with my friends. baseball is a national sport, but Cuba doesn’t have many things. It was fun to play soccer, where you only need one ball and everyone can get together. baseball The reason he started playing soccer was because a mentor who lived nearby found him playing by throwing stones and fruits and told him he had talent. ‘I’ll take you to the ballpark every day,’ he said, and he started dropping me off and picking me up. Did you get hooked right away?　I didn’t. I was more interested in fishing and playing with friends and didn’t want to go to practice.

To be honest, I still don’t enjoy baseball practice. I didn’t continue playing because I liked it, but because my coaches helped me hone my talent. I have to be grateful. The person who invited me to play baseball passed away last year, but he was very happy that I was playing in Japan. I hope I was able to repay him a little.

In Cuba, only a select few with good internet access can watch Japanese baseball, and I’ve never seen one myself. But information is shared, and when I return home, everyone is happy. Not only people who live in the same town, but recently people from other towns have also started coming together to say, “Good job!”

It’s been nine years since I came to Japan. At first, I had no idea how long I would be there. But I had confidence and a strong desire to succeed. People ask me if I’ve ever considered trying to make it to the majors. I’m honored to be told I could make it, but all the Latin American players who are active in the majors have been trying since they were 20 years old. My success came as I got older. With that in mind, I never thought, “I want to go” or “I should go.” There’s a chance I’ll end my career in Japan, but no one knows. Right now, I’m just doing my best for The Hawks. (Fukuoka Softbank Hawks pitcher)

◆ Liván Moinelo (Livan Moinelo) Born on December 8, 1995 in Cuba. 29 years old. Joined the Cuban domestic league in May Softbank 2017 as a training slot. Registered under control in June of the same year. Best reliever pitcher in 20 years. Best ERA in 24 when he turned to a starter. 25/6/6 Yakult match (Jingu) in the club’s new record 1 game 18 strike out. He represented Cuba in the WBC in 17 and 23. 178 cm, 69 kg. Although he is a left-handed hitter, he showed right-handed hitter in the exchange game and right-handed pitcher at the ball party. A four-year contract for a total of 4 billion yen from 25.

Softbank ‘s Moinelo baseball “I still don’t enjoy baseball practice. My coaches have only helped me hone my talent. Pacific League

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