Yuto Akihiro is a huge of his sport in additional methods than one.
The 22-year-old is the tallest Japanese skilled baseball participant in historical past, and is used to being seen.
He expects the same response from baseball followers in Australia after becoming a member of the Adelaide Giants of their bid to clinch a third-straight Australian Baseball League (ABL) championship.
The ability-hitter — who’s 6 toes 8 inches, or simply over 2 metres tall — is understood in Japan as ‘Godzilla 2.0’, and joins Adelaide from the Yomiuri Giants.
“[Yomiuri] gave us a superb alternative to play for such an excellent crew,” Yuto Akihiro mentioned.
“I am excited and actually honoured to be right here.
“I am trying ahead to carrying out nice issues with an excellent group of fellows.”
Yuto Akihiro says his tall stature is his ‘sturdy go well with’. (ABC Information: Carl Saville)
The Yomiuri Giants, a Nippon Skilled Baseball League (NPB) crew based mostly out of Tokyo, have gained a file 31 Japan Collection or JBL Championships since being based in 1934.
Yuto Akihiro is certainly one of three Japanese gamers to hitch the Adelaide Giants this season, in a brand new partnership with the membership.
He has performed for the Japanese nationwide crew and hit .273 in his rookie season on the NPB stage.
“Hitting is my sturdy go well with greater than something,” he mentioned.
“I’ve the facility, I am fairly assured with my skill to swing arduous.
“Utilizing my tall stature, it is going to be my sturdy go well with so I am trying ahead to creating an affect utilizing my energy and stature.”
Proper-handed pitcher Makoto Kyomoto and left-handed pitcher Ryusei Yamada have additionally joined the crew for the upcoming season.
Ryusei Yamada, Yuto Akihiro and Makoto Kyomoto have all joined the Adelaide Giants this season. (Provided: Izzy Grace Images)
From Giants to Giants
Adelaide’s basic supervisor Nathan Davison mentioned the connection constructed with the Japanese crew confirmed how far his membership has come previously few years.
The Giants have gained back-to-back ABL championships.
“It was a number of years within the making … we needed to show to them that it was worthwhile,” Davison mentioned.
“As a result of they’re the primary ones to come back out to us, they are going to have been advised by the organisation that that is necessary.
“Simply the truth that they’ve invested with a translator right here, a coach, a knowledge and statistician, it implies that they’re all in and so they additionally need to be taught our manner of baseball.”
The three gamers will slot into an already proficient Adelaide roster.
Eight gamers from Main League Baseball’s Philadelphia Phillies can even play for the Giants this yr, and an additional 9 Australian gamers have World Baseball Basic expertise.
Davison mentioned the latest success of the membership meant gamers had been calling to hitch the crew from all world wide.
“We needed to say not more than ever earlier than,” he mentioned.
“The truth that there was demand in individuals desirous to be down right here is nice.”
Yuto Akihiro is the headline act and has travelled to Australia for the primary time.
He mentioned he expects to get further consideration due to his measurement — one thing he has all the time needed to take care of.
“I’ve all the time been tall, so I acquired a number of consideration rising up,” he mentioned.
“It would not actually stress me out as a result of I am used to being [looked] upon that manner.
“If something, I might like to show the eye that I obtain into my vitality and hold enjoying arduous.”
‘Created a fortress’, says Giants boss
The Adelaide Giants gained back-to-back Australian Baseball League championships in 2023/24. (Provided: Baseball Australia)
Davison mentioned all three gamers have been despatched to Adelaide with the promise of enchancment.
He mentioned that was the case notably for Yuto Akihiro, who has been touted as a future star of the NPB again in Japan.
“One of many causes particularly to be down right here is they need him to get higher at enjoying his place,” Davison mentioned.
“We’ll give him that chance … in order that he can proceed to work on the facility stroke he wants.”
Davison mentioned there was rising confidence among the many membership that they might as soon as once more compete for the ABL championship, particularly with the proficient gamers coming in.
“You’ll be able to solely win three when you’ve gained two … we have completed the arduous yards,” he mentioned.
“We will be aggressive; we will be a great crew it doesn’t matter what.
“It is arduous to win right here and are available into our residence discipline … we have created a fortress down right here.”
The Adelaide Giants will open the ABL season with a visit to Sydney to tackle Sydney Blue Sox within the opening spherical this week.
