「福岡北部」の公立校投手がプロで活躍できるワケ［2024.7.2］

13年前の夏、北九州市民球場のマウンドで投げていたサウスポーが海を越え、メジャーリーグの強打者たちをきりきり舞いさせる投手になると誰が思っただろうか。北九州市の北筑出身の今永昇太は27日（日本時間28日）の登板で8勝目をあげることはできなかったが、ここまで15試合に登板し7勝2敗。大リーグのオールスター出場の可能性も出てきた。

高校時代の今永を育ててきた恩師もここまでの活躍は予想外だった。高校時代に指導した田中修治さん（小倉商部長）、井上勝也さん（香住丘監督）も教え子の活躍に「まさかこんな活躍を見せるとは」と目を見張っている。

　今永を最初に見いだしたのは北筑の部長だった田中さんだった。信号待ちで止まった時に何げなく見た中学生の野球の試合。そこにきれいなフォームで投げる左投手がいた。

　後にその中学生が北筑に入学した。入学当時の身長165㌢。「中学の先生から話を聞いて信号待ちで見た体の小さい投手だと思い出したんです。左だったから印象に残っていたのかもしれません」。監督だった井上さんは「中学時代は左投げて遊撃をやっていたくらいですから、器用でしたね。1年秋から先発の1番手として投げていました。下級生のころはエラーで負けると顔や態度に出ていた。その態度はどうなのって指導したことがあります」と思い出を語る。

　体は小さく、入学した頃は体力もなかった。腕立て伏せは10回できなかったという今永だが、投げる球はほかの投手とは違っていた。「110㌔台しか出ていないときでも球の質、回転数が良くて初速と終速の差があまりなかった」と田中さん。井上さんも「捕手側から見ると浮き上がってくるような球だった。初めて対戦する打者はバットを振って首をかしげるんです。打者からすれば伸びる感じがあったんじゃないかと思いますね」。3年生になって体ができてくると急激な成長を見せた。球速は2年生で120㌔台、3年生になって130㌔を越えた。「130出るようになったねと話していると、次の週にはもう142㌔です」とその成長ぶりには田中さんも驚くしかなかった。

　成長の要因に今永の貪欲なまでの探究心があると2人は言う。田中さんも井上さんも「こうやれ」という指導はしなかった。自分なりに考えたことや練習を試してみて、合わなかったらすぐやめる。その繰り返しだった。ある日突然、体をひねるトルネードで投げ始めたことがあった。「そのときは、さすがにすぐにやめろと言いました」と井上さんは笑う。提出する野球ノートには自分が試したことや考えたことが書かれていた。「普通の子は反省が書かれているんですが、そういうのはなかった。だから面白かった。自分で考える環境だったから伸びたと思いますね。強豪でガリガリやられていたら潰れていたかも」と田中さんは成長の要因を挙げた。
そんな下地があるから大リーグでも対応できるのだと恩師たちは確信している。「彼はレベルが上がれば上がるほど対応できる。そして対戦しながら解決策、課題を見ていけるという才能があると思う」と井上さんは今後のさらなる活躍にも期待している。

■ 「プロ」育つ練習環境

　今永だけではなく、公立校出身でプロで活躍する投手がたくさんいる。今永が育った永犬丸（えいのまる）中の近くにある八幡南は、ルーキーながら4勝をあげた西武の左腕武内夏暉の出身校だ。右投手でも楽天の中継ぎとして昨年8勝をあげ新人王の候補となった渡辺翔太投手は北九州高、昨季のセ・リーグで最優秀中継ぎ投手賞を受賞した島内颯太郎投手は福岡県福津市の光陵高出身。北九州市や筑豊地区などを中心とした「福岡北部地区」の公立校出身の選手の活躍が目を引く。田中さんは「公立が私立を倒そうとするとやっぱり左か変則しかない。公立校の指導者が左や変則投手を育てようとするから、そういう投手が育ってくるんじゃないですかね」と言う。

　井上さんがあげたのは練習環境。私立に比べて練習環境や練習時間に制約がある公立校では自分で工夫して練習するしかない。今永も高校時代の練習時間は午後7時30分までと決まっていた。「公立校では今の環境で自分がどうやって成長するかを考えて練習していきます。考えるっていうのは大きい。大学や上に行けば環境が整ってくるのでそこでレベルが上がるんじゃないかと思います」と話してくれた。

　今永は3年の夏は4回戦で小倉に敗れた。武内は豊国学園に敗れ初戦敗退で早々と夏が終わった。福岡大会は今年、北九州市民球場をメーン会場に135チームが熱戦を繰り広げる。将来日本を飛び出して活躍するようなダイヤモンドの原石がどこかに埋もれているかもしれない。そんな原石たちとの出会いを楽しみにしながら夏の大会の取材をしていきたい。

　　
■英訳　

Who would have thought that the southpaw pitching on the mound at Kitakyushu Municipal Stadium thirteen summers ago would become a pitcher who would baffle Major League hitters across the ocean? Shota Imanaga, from Kitakyushu's Hokuchiku, couldn't secure his eighth win in his appearance on the 27th (28th Japan time), but he has a record of 7 wins and 2 losses in 15 games so far. He is even being considered for the MLB All-Star Game.

The success of Imanaga has been a pleasant surprise for his former coaches from his high school days. Shuji Tanaka, head of the Kokura Commercial team, and Katsuya Inoue, coach of Kasumioka, both recall his development with amazement, saying, "We never expected him to perform this well."

Tanaka first noticed Imanaga when he was the head of Hokuchiku. While waiting at a traffic light, he casually watched a middle school baseball game and saw a left-handed pitcher with a beautiful form. That middle schooler later enrolled at Hokuchiku, standing 165 cm tall at the time. "I remembered him from the middle school teacher's talk and the small pitcher I saw at the traffic light. The left-handed throw left an impression," Tanaka said. Coach Inoue added, "During middle school, he even played shortstop. He was quite versatile. By the fall of his first year, he was already the top starting pitcher. In his early years, if he lost because of an error, it showed on his face and attitude, and I had to address that."

Despite his small stature and lack of physical strength upon entering high school, Imanaga's pitching was different from others. "Even when his speed was in the 110 km/h range, the quality and spin of his pitches were good, with little difference between initial and final velocity," said Tanaka. Inoue also noted, "From the catcher's perspective, his pitches seemed to rise. First-time batters would swing and look puzzled. The ball probably seemed to extend from their perspective." By his third year, Imanaga's physical development accelerated, with his pitch speed increasing from 120 km/h in his second year to over 130 km/h in his third year. "When we noted he hit 130 km/h, the next week he was already throwing 142 km/h," Tanaka remarked, astonished.

Both coaches attribute Imanaga's growth to his insatiable curiosity and willingness to experiment. "We didn't give strict instructions on how to pitch," Tanaka and Inoue said. "He would try different things and stop if they didn't work." Inoue recalled, "One day, he suddenly started pitching with a tornado twist, and I immediately told him to stop." His baseball notes were filled with his own experiments and thoughts. "Most students write reflections, but his notes were different and interesting. I think he thrived because he was encouraged to think for himself. If he had been pushed too hard in a competitive environment, he might have burned out," Tanaka explained. His teachers are confident that this foundation enables him to adapt in the Major Leagues. "He can rise to any level and find solutions to challenges as he faces them," Inoue said, expressing optimism for Imanaga's future.

## Training Environment for "Pros"

Many successful professional pitchers come from public schools, just like Imanaga. Near his alma mater, Einomaru Junior High, Yahata Minami High School produced left-hander Natsuki Takeuchi of the Seibu Lions, who won four games as a rookie. Right-hander Shota Watanabe, who won eight games as a reliever for Rakuten and was a candidate for Rookie of the Year, hails from Kitakyushu High School. Last season's Central League top reliever award winner, Sotarou Shimauchi, is from Kouryo High School in Fukuoka Prefecture's Fukutsu City. The achievements of players from public schools in northern Fukuoka, especially in Kitakyushu and the Chikuho area, are notable. Tanaka explained, "Public schools have to beat private schools with left-handed or unconventional pitchers. Public school coaches focus on developing such pitchers, leading to their success."

Inoue pointed out the unique training environment. Unlike private schools, public schools have limited practice time and facilities, forcing students to be creative in their training. Imanaga's practice time in high school was limited to 7:30 PM. "In public schools, students have to think about how to grow within their current environment. This thought process is crucial. When they move on to university or higher levels with better facilities, their level increases," he said.

Imanaga's summer ended early when his team lost in the fourth round to Kokura. Takeuchi's summer ended in the first round with a loss to Houkokugakuen. This year's Fukuoka tournament will see 135 teams competing, with Kitakyushu Municipal Stadium as the main venue. There might be future diamonds in the rough waiting to be discovered. As a reporter, I look forward to covering the summer tournament and finding these hidden gems.

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