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 Probably
no amateur player has received as much attention as Keio
University star Yoshinobu Takahashi since Kazuhiro
Kiyohara signed with the Seibu Lions over a decade ago.
In his first year with the Lions, Kiyohara earned the
Rookie of the Year Award with a .304 average,  31 home
runs and 78 RBIs. With luck, Takahashi will emulate
Kiyohara's career debut and not his debut with the
Giants.Joining
Japan's most popular team in 1997, Kiyohara failed to
live up to expectations, batting just .249 with 32 home
runs. Though a reasonably successful season, the Yomiuri
first baseman carried the blame for the Giants poor
season.
Since
expectations have risen quite high for Takahashi, he too
may be the next Kyojin scapegoat. And Kiyohara, who
played in the Pacific League, didn't have the pressure
that the college star will have. Unless he turns a few
miracles on the field, Takahashi is set up for a huge
fall.
Daiei
sophomore infielder and former Olympic star Tadahito
Iguchi recently expressed concern about Takahashi. Iguchi
joined the Hawks in 1997, playing well below the lofty
expectations the team held for him. Could the same fate
greet the new Kyojin star?
During
the pre-season tournament, Takahashi received more media
attention than any other player, inspiring one magazine
to cash in on his popularity by printing a special
edition dedicated to him. For a rookie, he certainly
played well, but compared to established stars his
performance was less extraordinary.
That
said, the 23-year old slugger does have considerable
potential. In 1997, he broke a Tokyo collegiate record by
belting 23 home runs. Reportedly, Takahashi can run 50
meters in 6.2 seconds and can throw a baseball 145
kilometers per hour (90 mph).
Shortly
after his announcement that he would choose to play for
the Giants in the reverse designation system, a
loophole in the college draft, rumors persisted that
Takahashi regretted the decision. A "surly"
attitude during the press conference led many to think
his decision was influence (or dictated) by an
overbearing father.
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