The mighty batters of the Hanshin Tigers, who clinched their seventh Central League pennant at a record-setting pace, benefited largely from a quiet man who used to suffer panic attacks.
Eiichi Koyano, 44, the team’s chief hitting coach, was personally recruited by manager Kyuji Fujikawa to support the club’s batting lineup this season. The two, both born in 1980, have known each other for many years.
Though instrumental in the team’s success, Koyano remained humble after the Tigers defeated the Hiroshima Carp on Sept. 7 to claim Hanshin’s first CL title in two years.
“This isn’t a moment of satisfaction for me, just a checkpoint,” he said to reporters. “Talk to the players instead; they’re the ones who deserve the spotlight.”
Born in Tokyo, Koyano was drafted by the Nippon-Ham Fighters in 2002 out of Soka University. Known as a reliable extra-base hit specialist, he built a solid career in Nippon Professional Baseball.
However, in 2006, he began experiencing unexplained symptoms, including vomiting and dizziness, which would later be diagnosed as a panic disorder.
At times, the condition became so severe he couldn’t even leave his home, let alone take the field. But rather than give in, Koyano reshaped his outlook on the game.
“No matter what symptoms I had, as long as I could play baseball, that was enough for me,” he said. “I came to realize that the things I once took for granted were actually a blessing.”
He went on to lead the Pacific League in RBIs in 2010 and played for both the Fighters and the Orix Buffaloes before retiring in 2018.
The Hyogo Prefecture-based Tigers are the third NPB team for which Koyano has coached, following stints at the Rakuten Golden Eagles and the Buffaloes.
His personal experience with mental health challenges has made him a uniquely empathetic mentor in the high-pressure world of professional baseball.
“Some players feel sick to their stomachs before games from the stress,” Koyano said. “When that happens, I tell them, ‘You should be proud of yourself for facing it head-on.’”
Coaching for a high-profile team like the Tigers brings intense media scrutiny and public attention.
But Koyano said he was never afraid of the pressure. After his diagnosis, he drew even more strength from the cheers of the fans.
“Knowing that so many people are out there fighting alongside us–that gives me courage,” he said.
Original Source: This article was originally published on Asahi Sports. Click the link to view the full article.