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Local Kid Helps Watanabe Rediscover Old Stroke Wednesday, October 29th, 2036 Tadayoshi Watanabe has always given back to his hometown community of Saitama, Japan. That's why every offseason, he appears at a local baseball clinic to help young baseball players learn the game. But this offseason, a student and fan became the teacher. After Watanabe showed 12-year-old Anthony Youngly the 'proper' batting stance and swing, Youngly responded by saying, "But that's not what you do!" After the Phoenix Hotspur first baseman laughed him off, Youngly pulled out his phone and pulled up an old video of Watanabe taking an at bat just a couple of years earlier during a game. After watching a few more videos, the surprised Watanabe sheepishly admitted that the kid was right. "My approach has noticeably changed since I came up in the league a few years ago. My swing has become shorter and isn't nearly as natural," Watanabe said. When asked what he planned to do after spring started, the 1B was adamant. "I want to get back to basics. It may have taken a local kid to pull me out of poor hitting mechanics but now I'll be working harder than ever to get back to where I once was. In the meantime, I'll be sending that kid a personal thank you and signing up to do a baseball clinic in Saitama, Japan again next year," he said. "After all, who knows what I'll learn about myself." |
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