Shotaro Hashimoto: "Why would I feel tired after throwing a complete game?"

"If I had another Hashimoto, I would for sure go public to say that Japan will win their first U-12 Baseball World Cup," Samurai Japan manager Hideaki Okubo said as he shook off jokingly the request for a statement about his goal for the WBSC U-12 Baseball World Cup 2025 presented by RAXUS, with Japan on top of the Super Round standings with a 3-1 record.

On Thursday, Shotaro Hashimoto limited Korea, at that moment undefeated, to one hit over six innings. Japan needed six pitchers to defeat the Dominican Republic the following day.

Okubo was Japan's starting catcher at the Atlanta 1996 Olympics and can tell pitching talent.

"Hashimoto impressed me from the start," Okubo added through an interpreter. "We started selecting the team through a video challenge, and his video impressed me at once. At this age, you have players who have already developed, and others who have not. So it's not easy to tell who will be a pitcher. Hashimoto has an excellent feel for pitching. He can also run. He can do everything. I see him representing Japan at the U-15 and U-18 levels shortly. He is a two-way player who can develop into a utility player, but I also believe he has the potential to be a good pitcher."

"Since he joined the National Team, he learned a lot, but I think he already knew a lot when he joined us. In particular, I'm impressed with his mentality," Okubo commented.

Hashimoto pitched his first complete game against Cuba on July 26. He used 80 pitches, 60 for strikes, and allowed three hits and one walk. He did better against Korea on July 31, allowing only one single in the sixth inning and using 72 pitches, 50 for strikes.

"I can command my fastball and throw it consistently for strikes," he commented through an interpreter. "I use my changeup and a slider to put the hitters off balance."

It is not easy to master the slider, a breaking pitch that can be stressful for the arm. When did you learn to pitch it? "Oh, quite a long time ago. I was in [Elementary School] fourth grade, so I was 10 years old."

Hashimoto started playing baseball when he was seven years old and has plans to keep playing. "I want to become a professional player, and as a professional, I want to represent Japan internationally.

"I have a favourite player, Yoshinobu Yamamoto. I would say he is my idol."

Yamamoto, 26, his in his second season with the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He helped Japan win the WBSC Premier12 2019, the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and the World Baseball Classic 2023.

"Yamamoto is a great pitcher. Pitching is what I like the most in baseball," said Hashimoto, who added that it's a team effort to win baseball games. He doesn't go for the strikeout at all costs. "Of course, I rely on my teammates and you're right, the important thing is to get outs, not how you get them."

One last thing: did you feel fatigue after your complete games? "Why would I feel tired?" he said.