Aware of the unusual change “It’s unlikely that the number will increase due to your own wishes…”
It’s an unusual uniform number change. Seibu pitcher Tatsuya Imai went to contract renewal negotiations at the team office in Tokorozawa City on the 1st and signed with an annual salary of 45 million yen (estimated amount), a decrease of 6 million yen. Furthermore, on the same day, he announced that he would change his jersey number from “11”, which he had been wearing for six years following becoming a professional player, to “48” at his own request. “48” is the number assigned by left-handed pitcher Shota Takekuma (current team staff), who ended his 15-year career as an active player this season.
When Imai asked GM Hisanobu Watanabe and team manager Mitsuo Iida to change his jersey number, he was reminded, “Is it really okay? (Later) Don’t say that number 11 is better.” It says. “It’s a common pattern for the numbers to change to younger numbers, but it’s rare that the numbers increase because of my own wishes, so I think they were surprised, but I didn’t waver,” says Imai. .
A fan appreciation event was held on November 23rd at their home ground, Belluna Dome. Takekuma himself entrusted Imai with the role of handing over the bouquet at his retirement ceremony, and she cried. “I had the opportunity to train with Mr. Takekuma during the offseason last season. I had been thinking regarding the number before[the fan appreciation event]but I decided to play the role of handing over the bouquet while there are other players I have a close relationship with.”