14-Year-Old Switch-Pitcher Throws 145 km/h at Junior Baseball Championship
Listen to the story
A 14-year-old baseball player from Japan has shown an unusual skill: he can pitch with both his left and right arm. He played in the Giants Cup, a major junior baseball tournament in Japan, sometimes called a "top-level showdown" because it brings together the best teams.
During the tournament, the young pitcher threw a ball at 145 kilometers per hour with his right arm. This is a very fast speed, even for older players. When he switched to his left arm, he still threw at 132 kilometers per hour, which is also impressive for a player his age.
Because of this rare talent, he is often described as a switch-pitcher. Very few baseball players can throw well with both arms, so his skill has attracted a lot of attention from fans and coaches.
His ability has already earned him a spot on Japan's U-15 national team. This team includes some of the best junior players in the country who are under 15 years old, and being chosen for it is seen as a big honor.
The tournament itself was the 20th All Japan Junior High School Baseball Championship, known as the Giants Cup. It is one of the most important competitions for junior high school baseball players in Japan.
His team, Toride Little Senior, won the championship this year. This was their second title in this tournament, and their first win came four years earlier. Winning twice shows that the team has stayed strong over the years.
The story of this young pitcher has interested many baseball fans in Japan, as switch-pitching at such a young age is very rare. Many people are now watching to see how his career develops in the future.
Vocabulary10 words
- switch-pitcher
- a player who can throw with either hand
- Giants Cup
- an important junior baseball tournament in Japan
- tournament
- a series of games to find a winner
- U-15
- a national team for players under 15 years old
- championship
- a contest that decides the best team or player
- title
- the official name for winning a championship
- pitcher
- the player who throws the ball to the batter
- national team
- a team that represents a whole country
- honor
- special respect given for an achievement
- showdown
- an important final contest between top teams
Quiz
Answer key
1. He can pitch with both arms 2. It includes some of the best junior players in Japan 3. False
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
A 14-year-old baseball player from Japan has shown an unusual _____: he can pitch with both his left and right arm.
He played in the Giants Cup, a major junior baseball _____ in Japan.
During the tournament, the young pitcher threw a ball at 145 _____ per hour with his right arm.
When he switched to his left arm, he still threw at 132 kilometers per _____.
Because of this rare talent, he is often described as a _____.
His ability has already earned him a spot on Japan's _____ national team.
Being chosen for it is seen as a big _____.
His team, Toride Little Senior, won the _____ this year.
This was their second title in this tournament, and their first win came four years _____.
The story of this young _____ has interested many baseball fans in Japan.
Discussion questions
- Why do you think it is rare for a baseball player to pitch well with both arms?
- What skills do you think are needed to become a fast pitcher at a young age?
- How do you think being chosen for a national junior team can affect a young athlete?
- Do you think young athletes should focus on one skill or try many, like this switch-pitcher?