Professional football

Pitcher Shinji Tajima, who played as a reliever and is affectionately known as “Taji Genie”, retired at the end of this season, and a retirement ceremony was held at Vantelin Dome Nagoya on October 5th.

Pitcher Tajima, a native of Nagoya City, joined the Dragons in 2011 when he was drafted third overall in the draft by Tokai Gakuen University, and pitched 56 games in his first year, winning five games and amassed 30 catches.
In 2015, he pitched in a career-high 64 games, and in 2016, he set a professional baseball record by not allowing a run in 31 consecutive games.
In 2017, he made 34 saves as the starting closer, but his pitching numbers dipped from the following year in 2018, and in 2020 he underwent collateral ligament reconstruction surgery in his elbow his right
After completing his rehabilitation, he made his first pitch after being promoted to the first team in the match against Hiroshima on July 12, 2021. for the first time in 816 days, and in the game against Hanshin on August 21. He became a winning pitcher for the first time in 1,472 days.

Total results: 461 games pitched, 25 wins, 41 losses, 75 saves, 116 holds, 3.62 ERA (pregame)
The right-handed pitcher, who supported the recreational staff as a reliever, has reached the end of his 13-year career.

On October 5, the game against Yokohama DeNA BayStars held at Vantelin Dome Nagoya was Tajima’s last game.

He took the mound with one out in the top of the 7th inning, and when the call “Pitcher Tajima” was called inside the dome, the stands were filled with fans holding up boards with his jersey number “`12.”

He then faced off against former Dragons Kyoda, and in the end, knocked out with a split of 134 km. He shook hands with each of the nine on the mound, was replaced by pitcher Sobue, and left the mound as “Tajima’s call”. ” cried out.

Pitcher Shinji Tajima’s Retirement Ceremony Greetings

I’m happy and I can’t help but be grateful.
I was born in Nagoya, I grew up in Nagoya, I learned about baseball, and I met many people through baseball. I think I was able to grow, so thank you very much .
We would like to express our sincere thanks to everyone involved in the team for creating a place like this.
I have always been a bad person, and I was often a reserve member.
I don’t want to lose, I want to play, I want to win, and I think that’s the only thing that allowed me to get this far.

I, Shinji Tajima, am here because of the people I have met and interacted with.
I would like to thank the managers, coaches, teammates and staff I was involved with through baseball, the teachers who gave me trouble when I was a student, and the friends my favorite from my hometown.

The older people I met at the Dragons were very cool, personable and trustworthy people, and I really liked them.
I came here with the desire to be as much like my elders as possible, and to be closer to them.
I don’t know how other people see me today, but I think I did everything I could to be closer to my old people. I can only thank you for allowing me to decorate the flower path like this.

Shinnosuke, who started today, is a passionate guy and I think you prepared very well today.
There was something really good about that feeling you had when you came down, and when I remember crying in the bathroom the first year, I can’t even think about it now.

Shuhei, he doesn’t have a uniform, so he doesn’t line up… Shuhei was drafted first when he joined the team at the same time, and he was the one who stayed until the end Shuhei, who had a selfish personality from start to finish, but was very cute and the one who did the most when he started working. I have high hopes for Shuhei in the future.

Toshiya, you have been with me for a long time and you are a very cute young man next year and sit here.

Sob-san and Ohno-san, I miss you the most. It’s hard for me too. I wanted to play more football with them, support them forever, and I will always think of them as brothers and as family. Thank you for your continued support.

And to the Chunichi Dragons fans who have supported us over the past 13 years, your support has given us strength. Thank you for your help.

I also think that I will be able to spend a little more time with my wife and three children from now on.
I would like to work together to help my three children achieve their dreams and goals, and I look forward to seeing them grow. Thank you for your continued support. !

Thank you, mom and dad, for letting me play baseball freely. My family time became centered around my baseball, and although it was a concern at times, I was able to make it this far because of my family’s support. Thank you very much.

Thank you for your continued support of Shinji Tajima. Thank you very much for the past 13 years.