Chihaya Sasaki joins DeNA at joining press conference: “I was surprised at how sudden it was.” “I’m humbled” by the Sasaki surname since Daimajin | Full-Count

DeNA will remove Sasaki from the lottery in the 2016 draft, “I hope Coach Ramirez will pull him.”

Pitcher Chihaya Sasaki, who transferred from Lotte to DeNA in the active draft held on the 8th, held a press conference at the team office in Yokohama on the 11th. His uniform number is “41”. “I was really surprised by how sudden it was, but it’s a positive thing for me,” said the right-hander, who will be in his eighth season next season, vowing to make a comeback in Yokohama.

Sasaki joined Lotte from Oberlin University with the first pick in the 2016 draft. In fact, at this time, DeNA nominated Meiji University’s Yuya Yanagi (Chunichi) first, but he was not selected in the lottery, and Sasaki was selected in first place. However, after competing with five teams, it was Lotte who drew the lottery.

He says, “I’ve admired the BayStars” since his days at Oberlin University. Hiroki Nomura, who played for the former Yokohama team, was coached at the same university. After the transfer, she called Mr. Nomura, but he didn’t answer, so she contacted him through LINE. She said, “When I lined up to ask the Baystars to take care of me, they laughed,” she said with a laugh. She said, “Seven years ago, when I was watching the draft, I was wondering if then-coach Ramirez would take me. I’m happy to be a part of this team.”

He is known as the “Great Demon God” by the team and is the first player to use the Sasaki surname since Kazuhiro Sasaki, who made a total of 381 saves in both Japan and the United States. When asked about it, he said, “It’s humbling. It’s an image of folkball.”

Sasaki pitched in 54 games as a relief pitcher in 2021, posting 8 wins, 1 loss, and 26 holds and 1 save, but in 2022, he pitched in 23 games, and this season, he pitched in 2 games, which significantly reduced his opportunities to pitch. “I want to contribute to the BayStars’ victory as soon as possible.I want to compete as a reliever.I want to prepare to do whatever I’m asked to do,” he said looking forward.