7/7/2013: Neo-Tokyo, Japan – Andy Messersmith.  Ron Blomberg.  Ryozo Nagamoto?

In the history of organized baseball, there have been many historic firsts.  First free agent to play out his option and sign as a free agent with another team?  Mr. Messersmith.  First designated hitter?  Mr. Blomberg.  First ever player transfer between the PEBA and LRS?  That would be Ryozo Nagamoto.

The deal between the PEBA’s West Virginia Coal Sox and the LRS’s Neo-Tokyo Akira was confirmed by both teams this morning.  While Messersmith and Blomberg had some advanced knowledge that their historic moments were going to occur, the news came unexpectedly to the 32-year-old veteran catcher. 

“I had no idea this was coming.  I had heard something about the possibility of Japanese players being moved back home, but I never gave it a second thought.  I definitely didn’t think it would happen to me.”

Nagamoto had dreams of success playing in the United States, but he has bounced around from team to team without making a major impact.  His recent stops have included Yuma, Aurora and San Antonio, as well as West Virginia’s farm systems, getting brief trips to the big leagues as he went.  While he impressed the Coal Sox last season by hitting .388 in 49 AB, this year has been a disappointment, hitting only .138 in his backup role.  Nagamoto is known for his defensive skills and excellent work ethic but he never got the opportunity to show his skills fulltime.

How does he feel about returning home?  “I really had hoped to make it big in America.  I’ve loved my time there and got to see a lot of places I never would have, but I’m 32 now and I don’t have a lot of years left playing this game.  I’m excited to be heading back home, hopefully for good.”

Jane Pomfret, the Coal Sox GM, explained, “Nagamoto didn’t fit into our team going forward, and he’d made it clear he wanted to return home.  Being the first team to send a player to the LRS via the waiver system is just the sort of thing that meets both the team’s needs and puts Nagamoto in a place where he is happy.” 

Neo-Tokyo’s GM Ron Hiscock has indicated that Ryozo will compete for playing time with current starter Noritada Ogawa and that their plans for Nagamoto go beyond 2013.  “He’s very much wanted here.  We welcome him home with open arms and high hopes.”