It didn't take long before Seiya Suzuki proved why MLB scouts and teams were so high about him. His first year with the Chicago Cubs has been nothing but spectacular and he hasn't needed much time to make the adjustment to the Big Show.
Suzuki has hit the ball well and strong, has made some impressive throws, and has proven that he'll be a constant threat with his base-running. He looks like a superstar in the making.
He Wasn't Thinking About MLB
Suzuki's relentless work ethic all but guaranteed he found success wherever he decided to sign. He's been like that since a young prospect for the Hiroshima Carp when he didn't even care about Major League Baseball.
But then, when fellow Japanese Hiroki Kuroda reached out to him after his stint in the U.S., it all changed for him:
“I was so totally consumed with establishing myself and fighting for a job with the Carp back then that American baseball was the farthest thing from my mind,” Suzuki told The New York Times. “But Kuroda San noticed me and told me about a player over there who I reminded him of with a similar build and skill set. He told me if I worked hard, I could be like him.”Trout's Game Left Him In Awe
Kuroda told Suzuki that he reminded him of Mike Trout, who was a rising star at the time. Once Seiya looked him up, he just couldn't turn away:
“I started searching for video of this guy,” Suzuki added. “When I found it, I was mesmerized by his talent. He could run, he could throw, he could hit, and he had power. For Kuroda San to tell me I had it within myself to develop into that kind of player was so inspiring. It gave me great motivation at the exact time I needed it most. It influenced my training, my diet, and my whole approach. I became so much more focused on becoming that guy.”The Resemblance Was There
Kuroda saw the resemblance between the two and challenged him to reach Trout's level. A tough, yet inspiring task:
“I know I set the bar high,” Kuroda said. “But they are both right-handed-hitting outfielders with a similar build. Obviously, I’m not a batter, but when I look at Seiya Suzuki from a pitcher’s perspective, I see a really tough out. Beyond that, you have the term ‘five-tool player’ in America, and that’s exactly what he is. Not just a talented batter, but he excels in all the skills required of a position player. That complete package with that body type reminded me of Trout.”Trout Inspired Him
Suzuki didn't shy away from the challenge and continued to work every single day to improve his craft and mimic Trout's game:
“Baseball is a sport you play every day,” Suzuki said. “By giving myself the challenge of maximizing my potential to the fullest like Trout had done with his, I was able to push myself when I got frustrated by telling myself, ‘I’ll bet he kept pushing himself,’ or when I would feel exhausted, I’d think, ‘You’re not going to reach your best like he did if you stop here.’ He wasn’t my rival; he was my inspiration.”The rest is history.
]]>The Inquisitr
