Several Japanese Baseball Stars Skip Tryout, Future Teams Unclear
Listen to the story
Every year, Japanese baseball players without a team can join a special tryout. Teams watch them play. Then teams can sign them.
This year, some famous players did not join the tryout. They are Kaito Kozono, Shintaro Fujinami, Koyo Aoyagi, Shogo Nakamura, and Ko Ito.
People are talking about why these players did not come. One former baseball manager said Hiroshima might sign Fujinami.
He also talked about two young players. He said Kenta Kozono from Yokohama DeNA has strong potential. He said Yuto Akihiro from SoftBank might also have a new team soon.
Kaito Kozono was seen at a baseball game while other players did the tryout. He looked very relaxed. Some fans thought this was strange.
People now want to know Kaito Kozono's next team. No team has said anything yet.
Vocabulary5 words
- tryout
- a test where players show their skill to find a new team
- former
- in the past; not now
- potential
- the chance to become very good in the future
- relaxed
- calm; not worried
- next team
- the new team a player will join
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Quiz
Answer key
1. Players without a team show their skill 2. Hiroshima 3. False
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Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Every year, Japanese baseball players without a team can join a special _____.
This year, some famous players did not join the _____.
They are Kaito Kozono, Shintaro Fujinami, Koyo Aoyagi, Shogo _____, and Ko Ito.
One _____ baseball manager said Hiroshima might sign Fujinami.
He said Kenta Kozono from Yokohama DeNA has strong _____.
He said Yuto Akihiro from SoftBank might also have a new _____ soon.
Kaito Kozono was seen at a baseball game while other players did the _____.
He looked very _____. Some fans thought this was strange.
People now want to know Kaito Kozono's next _____.
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