Yu Darvish to conclude his role as special advisor for the Japan Samurai team: All that needed to be done has been accomplished.

The 39-year-old San Diego Padres’ Japanese pitcher Yu Darvish participated in the Japan Samurai team’s Classic training camp as a special advisor and will complete his stage of work in Miyazaki tomorrow. He mentioned that he has done all he could, openly passing on his experience and expertise to the players. “Next, I will travel to Nagoya, Osaka, and Tokyo, hoping that everyone can reach Miami safely without injuries.” He also wished the Japan Samurai team success in defending their title.

Darvish was part of the championship-winning Japanese team in the last Classic. Due to undergoing Tommy John surgery on his right elbow last October, he couldn’t participate as a player this time. However, accepting an invitation from Japan team supervisor Hirokazu Ibata, he has been fully involved in the Miyazaki training camp since the 14th, contributing in a different capacity. About his role, Darvish admitted, “I’m neither a coach nor a player, so my position is delicate. Since there are already two pitching coaches, I have to understand the players’ needs while making sure not to overstep boundaries, finding what I can do within that line.”

After concluding the Miyazaki training camp tomorrow, the Japan team will play two warm-up games against the Chunichi Dragons in Nagoya on the 27th and 28th. On March 2nd and 3rd, they will face Orix and Hanshin Tigers in public warm-up matches in Osaka, preparing for their Classic opener against Chinese Taipei at the Tokyo Dome on March 6th.

Darvish will also finish his special advisor duties tomorrow. He specifically mentioned two veteran MLB pitchers, Yusei Kikuchi and Tomoyuki Sugano, “They are older, and with young pitchers like Yoshinobu Yamamoto, I believe they will lead the pitching staff well. Today, after Sugano’s bullpen session, we talked alone for over an hour. Usually, we don’t get such chances, but this time we could open up and have a deep conversation.” Darvish emphasized that Sugano is a pitcher he respects greatly, “Just having this time to communicate makes me feel this trip was worthwhile.”

Darvish said his most important mission on this trip was to convey his understanding of the new rules to the pitchers, “I’m more familiar with the Pitch Clock and PitchCom systems, so I shared as much as I could. I didn’t have any other special tasks, but I enjoyed this period a lot.” He stressed that he didn’t focus on personal gains but concentrated on fulfilling the role expected of him, “The days passed quickly, and I learned quite a bit.”

During live pitching and batting practice, he gave special feedback on several key pitchers. Regarding Sugano, Darvish noted his consistent delivery on every pitch, with excellent ball quality and splitter performance, “Overall, he is a very good pitcher.” About Taisei, he also praised his cutter and overall pitch variation, “The movement is clear, and the speed is coming through, fully showcasing his strengths.”

Darvish also observed Yusei Kikuchi’s bullpen session. He commented that since coming to Miyazaki, Kikuchi’s training and preparation have been solid, “His physical condition looks good. Moving forward, he shouldn’t rush but adjust well, and I hope he performs strongly in the tournament.”

Compared to three years ago, Darvish clearly noticed a significant improvement in the pitchers’ understanding of data. “Now everyone is more adept at reading TrackMan data and uses iPads while pitching in the bullpen, which wasn’t the case before.” He believes Japanese pitchers continue to evolve in both data application and technical skills, with further progress expected in the future.

Regarding the upcoming move to the Nagoya Vantelin Dome and Osaka Kyocera Dome for game preparations, Darvish thinks it won’t be a problem, “Many players already know how to approach these types of games. Once inside the actual stadium, they just need to focus on the game.”

On the mental aspect, he shared from his own experience, advising younger players not to overthink the pressure of wearing the national team jersey, “Being too conscious of it can be harmful. Just prepare as usual, and when stepping onto the batter’s box or pitcher’s mound, focus pitch by pitch.” He also openly expressed his hope to see Hirokazu Ibata lifted up in celebration after a championship, “I hope everyone works hard together to help him achieve that goal.”