Orix Buffaloes 's second-round developmental draft pick, rookie pitcher Matthew, is working hard on mound to get recognized by Ichiro, a former player for hit in his combined career in Japan and the US (currently a special assistant to the Mariners chairman and an instructor).
"I'd really like to talk to him sometime. I wonder what kind of person he is. I'll do my best so that Ichiro will recognize me." Matthew's face lit up like a young boy's.
Matthew is from Tokyo. He joined Orix Buffaloes as the second pick in the 2025 developmental draft from Kokugakuin Tochigi High School, Kokugakuin University, and the independent Nihonkai League 'Toyama GRN Thunderbirds.' His weapons are fastball with angles from 193cm and 105kg, reaching a top speed of 153km/h, curveballs, slider, and splitter. With the Toyama GRN Thunderbirds, he pitched in 14 games in 2025, contributing to a 4-0 record and winning the first half of the season.
His real name is Shapiro Matthew Ichiro. His last name is Shapiro, but he registered as Matthew so that people would be more likely to call him by his first name. When he said at his signing press conference that he would like to register as "Ichiro" in the future, it was probably because he wanted to cherish the name "Ichiro" as well. However, he will need to achieve a certain level of success to gain the understanding of the team and the fans.
In his first year, he pitched in 16 games, including practice games. regular season He was used in five games reliever and closer for the second team, ERA 0.00, with one save, and he is getting results. He also gained some bitter experience. In a practice game against a team of working people, he was disrupted in 2 2/3 innings, 74 pitches, hit 6, strike out 2, BB 5, 7 runs.
An accident involving one of pitcher suddenly changed the order of appearances, and the fielders' poor mound made for a tough outing. "I thought I might be taken out (mid-game) after giving up so many hits Walk, but Kobayashi (Hiroshi, the chief development coach) encouraged me, saying, 'Just a little more effort, keep going.' Being able to pitch through that situation so early in my professional career was a really good experience," he said, taking a positive view of the situation.
Orix Buffaloes He also feels a "connection" with the Toyama Prefecture Independent League. When he was in the independent league, he pitched in an interleague game against Orix Buffaloes in June 2013 in his hometown of Toyama, and although he allowed a Ryoma Ikeda player to hit hit a fastball of 152 km at no runs speed closer in the first inning game, he was unable to appeal to the professional baseball team officials in the second inning game, hitting 5 hit and 5 runs in the second game. That is why he was surprised when he was selected by Orix Buffaloes in the draft. He was surprised when he was selected in the draft by pitcher. He was told by a senior player from Kokugakuin University, Kaede Yokoyama who was a trainee at the time, "You have a good ball. You should have more confidence," which helped him to make the necessary changes.
Since the start of the season, he has grown a beard, saying he "wanted to change something." His old friends are surprised by his transformation, but he is well-liked within the team, and Senior Director and Field Coordinator Satoshi Nakajima, who came to observe, even told him, "It suits you." "We will play against the Toyama GRN Thunderbirds on June 10th at Toyama Municipal ball park. I intend to show not only my appearance, but also how much I've grown since turning pro."
If I ever meet Ichiro, there's something I'd like to ask him: "How would you deal with me?" I need to gain more experience and hone my skills until I become a player who can have that kind of conversation with him after I've been promoted to the main roster.
Interview and text by Masaki Kitano
