A special documentary program titled "Professional Baseball Players Cut from the Team," which follows professional baseball players who have been cut from the team and their families as they fight to seize their future, will be broadcast on TBS from midnight on December 29th. This year marks the 22nd broadcast, and this time it will focus on the decisions of players Takumi Kitamura (former Yakult Swallows), Daiki Yamamoto (former Yakult Swallows), and Koki Ugusa (former Hiroshima Carp).
◇ Returning to the professional stage with his ex-idol wife who is about to give birth
Takumi Kitamura joined the Giants as the fourth pick in the 2017 draft, highly regarded for his solid defensive skills at third base and shortstop. He was expected to be the successor to Hayato Sakamoto. He transferred to the Yakult Swallows in the 2023 offseason draft and played in a career-high 62 games this year, but his batting average was in the single digits and he was cut from the team. His wife is a former member of a popular idol group. The heartbreaking news came just as they were about to give birth to their third child.
He also has two young daughters, aged 3 and 5. Kitamura says, "My body is still healthy. Between 28 and 30, I'm at my peak," and he continues to train hard to stay active. Will the 30-year-old, who is aiming to return to the professional stage for the sake of his beloved family, receive any good news? We followed him as he continues his challenge.
◇ "I'll definitely get my revenge" - Taking on the tryouts with his family
Last year, Daiki Yamamoto pitched in a career-high 44 games as a relief pitcher. He faced 126 batters and didn't allow a single extra-base hit, posting an ERA of 1.42. This year, he continued to build his career, taking the mound in the opening game.
"Honestly, I wondered why..." The news of his release came as a complete surprise. Yamamoto has a family to protect: his eldest son, aged 18 months, and his eldest daughter, aged 5. And his wife, Erika. Erika had dreamed of working in sports event management, but she dropped out of university to support Yamamoto. She has supported him throughout his eight years as a professional, even earning a qualification as an athlete food master.
"My curveball is so much better now. I'll definitely get my revenge." A man determined to return to the pros takes part in a tryout in front of his family. But what is the reason behind his wife's tears?
For a mother in Hiroshima... A man's challenge at a crossroads in his life
He attended the prestigious Joso Gakuin High School. At Hosei University, he was a speedy and skillful outfielder, and was selected for the Japan University National Team. He followed the path of a baseball elite, and joined Hiroshima as the second pick in the draft. He was a promising player for the team, but this fall he was cut from the roster.
At the age of 28, this man found himself at a crossroads in his life, and he had someone he called his "mother in Hiroshima." Kitamura Chiko runs a restaurant in Hiroshima City. She was the benefactor who made nutritious lunches for Ugusa when he was struggling to build up his body through diet, living alone. For Kitamura, who has no children, supporting Ugusa has become his purpose in life.
Aiming to make it into the professional league once again, Ugusa took part in a tryout to repay the kindness of her "mother of Hiroshima." When she stepped up to bat at the familiar Mazda Stadium, an unusual sight awaited her.
This will be the first time that Domoto Koichi will be narrating.
