WBSC Premier12 2024: Fireballer Fujihira Shoma is soaring for Japan
Once a high jump hopeful, the reliever for the world and Olympic baseball champions is striking out hitters and turning lots of heads.
Baseball Softball
Once upon a time, Japanese pitcher Fujihira Shoma was closer to Abdul Hakim Sani Brown than he is to Shohei Ohtani. A lot closer.
When Fujihira, currently playing for Japan at the Premier12 baseball tournament, was in junior high, he was a talented high jumper, good enough to win the Junior Olympic Cup and finish runner-up at the nationals in his age group.
There, Fujihira watched outfielder Isobata Ryota, who just happens to be his Japan team-mate at the Premier12, beat future two-time Olympian Sani Brown in the 200m sprint.
“I was in the high jump pit watching,” Fujihira told reporters on the eve of Japan’s Super Round game against USA on Thursday at Tokyo Dome.
“I don’t know how the high jump translates to baseball but I like to think that’s where I learned how to deal with pressure situations. I really do.”
Watching Fujihira step up at this tournament for world champions Japan, one wouldn’t doubt it.
The Rakuten Eagles’ Fujihira has been one of Japan’s bright spots at the Premier 12, where the reigning Olympic champions were unbeaten in the opening round against Chinese Taipei, Republic of Korea, Australia, Dominican Republic, and Cuba.
Fujihira has only had one career save for Rakuten in seven seasons in Nippon Professional Baseball, but he has been lights out in a holding role for Japan’s excellent bullpen.
In three shutout innings pitched, Fujihira has struck eight out of a maximum nine with some heat and a knee-buckling forkball.
In Japan’s toughest game during the opening round against Cuba, he came on in the ninth with his team barely up 7-6 but loaded the bases with one out after allowing a couple of hits and hitting a batter.
Under a drizzle in Taipei, Fujihira then showed amazing focus - like a high jumper squaring up his run to the bar - to strike out the following two batters to get out of the jam as Japan held on for the win.
Fujihira’s performance here has already been generating big-league buzz. At the rate he’s throwing now, he may make that jump to the majors not too far down the line.
Fujihira Shoma has been on fire for Japan at the Premier 12.