Will Ohtani survive by getting his 50th home run, taking the mound in 57 games from five teams in a season, and finishing the Yakult in Kwonto Jung-rae (Min Chang-ki's Japanese baseball)

Feb 03, 2025

Bauman (right) and Lambert, who joined Yakult this season. He is a right-handed pitcher who played in the Major League until last year. Baumann is a strong finisher this season. Photo capture = Yakult Swallows SNS

Yakult is the Central League winner from 2021-2022. After winning for two consecutive years, he has been sagging into the B-class for two consecutive years. Director Takatsu posed with the team slogan. Photo capture = Yakult Swallows SNS

Mike Baumann (30), a right-hander who pitched in the Major League until last year, is a strong candidate for the Yakult Swallows this season. Yakult, who has been in fifth place for the second consecutive year, sent out all four foreign pitchers. This year's Yakult team slogan is '捲 Land 來'. In order to take another leap forward, it was necessary to reorganize foreign pitchers.

Baumann, who pitched in 57 major league games last year, joined on the condition of receiving $1 million. Right-hander Peter Lambert, 28, signed for $1.6 million. Yakult's Main Room'Miji Jingu Stadium is a typical batter-friendly stadium. It is the best environment for Murakami Munetaka (25) as the fourth batter, but it is a challenge for new foreign pitchers.

It has become a hot topic since it was mentioned that Bauman is going to Japan. Japanese baseball fans naturally had no choice but to think of Shohei Ohtani (31). Every time Baumann appears throughout this season, Ohtani will be mentioned.

Rondipo Park in Miami, Florida, U.S., September 20, 2024 (Korea Standard Time). Los Angeles Dodgers' `Superstar' Ohtani sent Rondipo Park into a frenzy in an away game against the Miami Marlins. He hit 49.50,51 homers and stole 50,51 in the game. Finally, for the first time in the Major League, he achieved '50 home runs -50 steals'.

Ohtani, who hit his 49th two-run homer in the sixth inning, hit a two-run homer with two outs and a third base in the seventh inning. The Miami right-hander pushed an 89.1-mph knuckle curve thrown to the outside low course. The ball stretched out and flew over the left fence of Rondipo Park. The opposing pitcher was Bauman.

Yakult's Kyushu Miyazaki Spring Camp. In media interviews, 'Otani's 50 home runs' can't be left out. Baumann is "Good question. What happened can't be helped. 이 경험

Yakurt No. 4 hitter Murakami. Yakult's home ballpark is a typical batter-friendly stadium. Photo capture = Yakult Swallows SNS

I think this will make me a better pitcher in the future," he said with a smile. I passed the expected question lightly.

The main character who gave Ohtani his historic 50th home run. Apart from this, it's a very harsh 2024 for Baumann.

He started with the Baltimore Orioles last year and went through a total of five teams. It was traded to the Seattle Mariners in May. He then went to the San Francisco Giants and changed to the Los Angeles Angels and Miami jerseys. I crossed the continental United States twice and traveled north and south. He pitched 58 ⅓ innings in 57 games. He had a 3-1-9 hold and a 5.55 ERA.

a tumultuous time. Baumann looked back positively. "It was a difficult experience, but thanks to this, I was able to meet several people from five clubs," he said. Also "Every time I went to a new team, I thought about being a good colleague. I thought about what role I should play to help the team," he added.

Now he plays in Japanese professional baseball, not other teams in the Major League. I challenge myself in a completely unfamiliar place. Baumann is always in a learning position in an environment with different cultures, languages, and atmospheres