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地元鎌ヶ谷市での熱狂ぶりを”rock star welcome” （ロックスターの様な歓迎ぶり）と表現したAP.
記録を出してナンボの世界で、ルーキーがこれほどもてはやされるのが不思議でしょうが無かったのですねきっと.
Rookie Saito creating fan, media frenzy
Nippon Ham Fighters rookie pitcher Yuki Saito has received “a rock star welcome” from fans at the team’s training facilities in Chiba Prefecture.
About 2,500 fans were out to see his first training with fellow rookies on Wednesday, after the 22-year-old former Waseda University standout’s move into the team’s dormitory made the front page of almost all sports newspapers in Japan.
Saito began with a light workout, only running, playing catch and doing some fielding practice, and the fans kept watching his every move on a chilly day.
“It feels good to go out there and work out,” Saito said. “The first day of training has motivated me even more to jump-start my pro career. I want all these people to see me pitch on the top team mound as early as possible.”
Saito became a national hero when he led Waseda Jitsugyo to the national high school championship title in August 2006.
He opted to play college baseball rather than turn pro.
His rival Masahiro Tanaka, who lost to Saito in the high school championship final, joined the Rakuten Eagles as their top 2006 draft pick and won the Rookie of the Year award in 2007 on his way to becoming an established star pitcher in Japan.
In college, Saito became the only sixth pitcher to reach 30 wins and 300 strikeouts in the Tokyo Big Six League.
“Just seeing him run, I can tell he has strong athletic ability,” said Nippon Ham manager Masataka Nashida, who came to the training.
“Now is only the preparatory stage. I don’t want him to rush anything. I just expect him to take time to build physical strength.”