Interview

（You have accepted the team’s offer and decided to join. Please tell us the background behind that decision.）

My father was also a baseball player and is now a coach. My mother was worried about her son going to a faraway country, but both my father and mother strongly supported me to play baseball in Japan this time. My father’s style of playing baseball is similar to that of Japanese baseball, where the team aims to win, so he was very happy that I had the opportunity to try out Japanese baseball. I think that Japanese baseball has a style of baseball where fielding is very skillful and there is a lot to learn from. This is why I see the offer as an opportunity to improve myself in a way that is not just technical.

（How was last year’s WBC match against Japan?）

Even though we, the Czech team players, are amateurs with main jobs other than baseball, it was a very impressive experience to see the world’s best WBC Japan team treat us with such respect. It was a dream-like experience for me to be able to play against world-class players, such as pitcher Sasaki’s fastball and Ohtani’s huge home run against Australia. I also think it was a valuable opportunity for me to learn anew about what sports should be, not just about technique and strength, but also about respect for others. At the party held at the Czech Embassy after the match against South Korea, we were welcomed by many volunteers, including those from ORIZON Systems, who gave us encouragement for the subsequent match against Australia.

（How do you like Japan so far?）

First of all, I am overwhelmed by the modern cityscape of Tokyo. The Czech Republic is characterized by typical old European streets, such as Prague and my hometown of Brno, but Tokyo’s streets make me feel as if I visited a futuristic city. Personally, I am very interested in not only the richness of history, but also in what kind of economic activities are carried out in Japan as an economic powerhouse, and I want to learn about various aspects of the country in my spare moments from baseball practice.

（How is public interest in baseball in the Czech Republic?）

Before the WBC, it was not a very popular sport in the Czech Republic, but recently it seems that interest among the general public is increasing. The recent WBC match between Japan and the Europe team has been attracting so much attention that it was even broadcast on TV. I hope that someday I can become a presence that people will look back on and say, ‘This was when the love for baseball in the Czech Republic started.’