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Dodgers' Innovative Approach Unlocks Potential of Japanese Pitchers

Summary

  • Dodgers provide "baseball boot camp" to interpreters of Japanese players
  • Interpreter Will Ireton plays crucial role as "director of Japanese player operations"
  • Dodgers' player development helps Japanese pitchers like Sasaki, Yamamoto, and Ohtani
Dodgers' Innovative Approach Unlocks Potential of Japanese Pitchers

The Los Angeles Dodgers have built an impressive infrastructure to maximize the talents of their Japanese players. When Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the Dodgers' $325 million pitcher, arrived for spring training, the team quickly realized his interpreter, Yoshihiro "Hiro" Sonoda, lacked significant baseball experience. To address this, the Dodgers put Sonoda through a "baseball boot camp," immersing him in the intricacies of the sport.

The Dodgers' efforts extend beyond just Yamamoto. They have a dedicated "director of Japanese player operations and strategy," Will Ireton, who serves as a crucial bridge between the team's Japanese players and the coaching staff. Ireton, fluent in English, Japanese, and the language of baseball, accompanies the team's Japanese pitchers during key moments, ensuring effective communication.

This multilingual infrastructure has paid dividends for the Dodgers. Roki Sasaki, a 23-year-old Japanese phenom, struggled early in his rookie season but was able to turn things around with the help of the Dodgers' player development staff. Similarly, Yamamoto, an All-Star this season, and Shohei Ohtani, the Dodgers' superstar two-way player, have thrived under the team's guidance.

The Dodgers' commitment to supporting their Japanese players, both on and off the field, has been a key factor in their postseason success. As the team continues its quest for a championship, their innovative approach to bridging cultural and linguistic barriers serves as a model for other organizations looking to maximize the potential of international talent.

Disclaimer: This story has been auto-aggregated and auto-summarised by a computer program. This story has not been edited or created by the Feedzop team.
The Dodgers put their Japanese players' interpreters through a "baseball boot camp" to ensure they are well-versed in the intricacies of the sport, allowing for more effective communication between the players and the coaching staff.
Ireton serves as the Dodgers' "director of Japanese player operations and strategy," acting as a crucial bridge between the team's Japanese players and the coaching staff. He is fluent in English, Japanese, and the language of baseball, accompanying the Japanese pitchers during key moments to ensure effective communication.
The Dodgers' innovative approach to bridging cultural and linguistic barriers, including their interpreter training program and multilingual infrastructure, has helped unlock the potential of these Japanese pitchers, fueling the team's postseason run.

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