Meiji University coach Takehiro Tanaka, who will retire as of this fall…”Observation skills” honed as a salesman
Athletes who are able to grow even after becoming university students have characteristics that go beyond their skills. The Tokyo Six Universities Baseball Autumn League ended the entire schedule with Meiji University and Waseda University tied for first place, and Waseda University won the championship match held on the 12th, winning the league for the 48th time in total. Meiji University’s coach Takehiro Tanaka, who lost, will retire at the end of this season. The famous general, who has achieved the feat of winning three consecutive championships since the spring of 2022, has produced draft picks for 15 consecutive years, including this year, and his “nurturing ability” has also been outstanding, contributing to the longest record.
He has been in charge of the team since spring 2020, but prior to that he served as a coach for nine years starting in 2011. He has been coaching Meiji University players for 14 years. He was also involved in most of the 15 consecutive years of producing players drafted starting in 2010. This year as well, infielder Rui Soyama was drafted first by Rakuten, and pitcher Taimon Asari was drafted third by Nippon-Ham.
Manager Tanaka said, “Souyama’s (university total) 118 hits were easy to handle, but Takayama (Shun outfielder = No. 1 draft pick in 2015, joined Hanshin, currently Oisix Niigata) had 131 hits. I was able to see them all (the most in the history of six Tokyo universities’ baseball games).It was a happy 14 years,” he said with deep emotion.
During that time, there were also years in which it was unclear whether or not there would be draft picks. “I heard that Maruyama (outfielder Kazui, 2nd place for Yakult in 2021) and Muramatsu (infielder for Kaito, 2nd place for Chunichi in 2022) were worried, “What if their records end in their generation?” I felt sorry for the players if they were under that kind of pressure, so I sometimes wished that their records would end as soon as possible.”
In the end, he decided to pass the baton to his successor while continuing to keep track of his records, and said, “There are always players who are aiming to become professionals while watching their seniors, so I think this will continue next year and beyond. ” he smiled.
A policy of not hiring players who play only baseball, footwork honed as a salesman
What is the secret to continuing to produce the talent that professionals seek? When I asked Coach Tanaka, after thinking about it for a while, he said, “I think it’s scouting. There are a variety of players, such as those who reach their peak in high school, and those who are precocious who become great in middle school.Whether they are players who will improve in college or not. I think it’s difficult, but important, to figure out what’s going on.”
Since taking over as coach, Tanaka has traveled to high schools across the country, discovering and selecting promising players. During his playing days, he played for Meiji University and Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., and after retiring, he worked as a car salesman. His experience honed his footwork, ability to observe people, and negotiation skills.
An alumnus of the Meiji University baseball team said, “We don’t hire players who play only baseball.When you come to Tokyo as a university student, there are many temptations to play, so unless you’re a solid player, you won’t grow.”Coach Tanaka said: In addition to the national tournaments, we also attend practices at each high school and observe the players, including their personalities and attitudes toward practice.In order to be admitted through sports recommendation, it is also necessary to meet the standards in terms of academic performance. Point out.
At Meiji University, in next year’s draft, catcher Taiga Kojima (3rd year), who batted No. 4 for the Samurai Japan University National Team in this summer’s international tournament, and pitcher Taiga Takasu (3rd year), who is 192 cm tall and has a fastest speed of 153 km, will be selected. The nomination is considered likely. Will the “scouting ability” of great generals be inherited?
(Hirohisa Miyawaki)
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