Team USA pitcher Spencer Patton was not entirely sure what kind of reception he was going to get after setting up an impromptu autograph session the day before the United States was scheduled to face Japan in the Premier12.
Patton however, realized he may have underestimated the bonds he formed with some of the fans during his time with the Yokohama BayStars as he signed autographs and chatted with the line of fans who showed up after a U.S. practice at Tokyo Dome Wednesday.
“It just goes to show the support that these fans have for their players and how much they actually pay attention to the game,” Patton told The Japan Times at the Big Egg on Thursday. “Just the fact I was only here for four years, but that I was able to make an impact on a fan base like that is pretty special.
“We did an autograph signing yesterday and, I didn’t know what to expect, but the amount of people that showed up and came through, it was unbelievable. It just warmed my heart that there are still that many fans here of mine. So that was cool.”
Patton stepped on a Japanese mound again during his team’s 9-1 loss against Japan, striking out one in a scoreless inning of work.
He pitched for the BayStars from 2017 to 2020. He made 62 appearances with 27 holds and a 2.70 ERA in 60 innings in his first season as the BayStars reached the Japan Series. He made 219 appearances for the club overall and left with 101 holds.
Patton said his time in Japan helped him rediscover his confidence as a baseball player.
“When I came here, being put in the positions that I was in, the eighth inning guy, a big part of the team, it gave me the confidence that I needed learning how to pitch inside and bettering my offspeed stuff. Because these guys are such good contact hitters. So I had to learn how to actually put people away and get outs — real outs, tough outs. So I think playing here helped me go back and be confident in my stuff and be confident in myself that I belong in the big leagues.”
Returning to Japan for the Premier12 gave Patton a chance to catch up with former teammates.
He had dinner with BayStars reliever Yasuaki Yamasaki and others, and posed for a photo with the DeNA members who are with Samurai Japan — former teammates Masayuki Kuwawhara, Keita Sano and Shuto Takajo, a bullpen catcher, and infielder Shugo Maki, who joined the team after Patton’s departure.
“It’s kind of shocking that my Japanese was actually pretty good around those guys,” Patton said. “It was nice to catch up, just talk to them. I congratulated them on winning nippon ichi (winning the Japan Series), so that was fun.”
In a way, it was like reuniting with family.
“I think it’s just the life of a baseball player in general,” he said. “I see my teammates more than I see my wife. I don’t think a lot of fans actually understand that, like how much time we actually spend with each other, but it’s a lot. So when you depart from some of those guys and see them again, it’s nice to catch up.”
Playing for Team USA is also a family affair of sorts for Patton, who was eager to pull on the national team uniform.
“This one’s special,” he said. “My brother served in Iraq, and I’ve always wanted to serve my country somehow and be able to be a representative of the USA. I was actually supposed to be on the (Tokyo) Olympic team, but I wasn’t able to play because I got called up to the big leagues. When I got asked to play this, it was a no brainer.
“It’s just kind of like a thank you to all those that actually serve our country in the military. Obviously we’re doing it by doing stuff we love to do. They got to do it because that’s what they signed up for. So this just means so much to me.”
Full article can be found at: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2024/11/22/baseball/spencer-patton-team-usa/