Another year for the ages!

The year s officially coming to an end. It's been quite a year, with many ups and downs in the game of baseball. The beginning of this year started quite surprisingly with the chance to play professional baseball. it seemed to derail a bit upon my returning back to Okinawa after 3 months of pro ball in Wakayama. The Lord poured out his grace by allowing me to join a new company here in Okinawa after only being back for 3 months. I wasn't sure what the Lord had in store last year about this time, but it was definitely a step of faith. Our lives as Christian should always be a step of faith into the unknown. The Creator in whom we serve has everything under control and in His hands. For those of you who tune in, thank you for your love and prayers! Continue to pray with me as we seek to reach the baseball players in Okinawa and Japan for Christ. I'm looking forward to a new year and a new season in my life. May the Lord go before us in everything we endeavor for His sake! あけましておめでとうございます！

Every evening, all the players meet up at Sola Technical school to hit the weights. The gym is a very nice facility, and the school is fairly new in existence. Enagic company had joined with the school upon arriving in Okinawa last year. A few of the younger guys actually go to school here. It serves as a school of trade. Well, the baseball starts up again in mid-January, which means, a lot of running and getting in shape for the actual season which begins in March. I'm getting too anxious. May the Lord go before us this upcoming season. May He be glorified!

Some Photos

Lately I've been searching for a few photos from my days up in Wakayama. I found 2 pics from spring training and from our media day. Hope you enjoy these! I stick out like sore thumb! God bless you! 主の祝福がありますように！

Osaka Dome

This is a video of the opening game for the season. After the Japanese anthem, you can see me wearing the number 44 uniform lined up with the Rangers.

Kishu Rangers

Found this on youtube from the Kishu Ranger days!

End of the Year

The baseball season is officially over! It's been a wonderful 4 months of being with the team. Our last game was played at the Chatan stadium in Mihama. We fell to Meio University a mist the wind and rain 10-6. It's been a long season for all these guys and I believe everyone just ran out of gas!

Training continues starting next week, but baseball operations are over. We'll see what's going to happen next as the field of dreams continues. Stay tuned! Stay blessed!

robby

Fukuoka

In the beginning of this month, we headed to Fukuoka for a week long tournament. It was baseball and everyday hotel living for the entire week. When we first arrived, the very next day we had a game against the top University in Fukuoka. We lost in the bottom of the 9th 5-4! it was just a practice game to prepare for the tournament. The tournament consisted of about 5 games maximum with losing 2 games and you're out. So it was a double elimination tourny. To make things brief, we lost the first game 8-1 to a technical college team before going on to upset Nissan in the second game. It was quite incredible to have the chance to play Nissan in their last game as a company team and beat them. Nissan has shut down all baseball operations as of November.

The final game for us was against Mittsubishi, who shut us down 13-0. I was blessed to throw a few innings here and there. The first full tourny I was able to participate in was quite interesting. Just another day of life playing ball in Japan while sharing the good News of Jesus Christ. Thank you for continuing to pray for the work God is doing through baseball! Amen.

Okiden Defeated!

Well, we finally beat Okiden! The final score was 7-3! Okiden is the Okinawan Electric Comapany, and by reputation, the top team in Okinawa. Every year, Okiden takes the top high school players from around Okinawa to compete in company tournaments around Japan. Although it was a practice game, this was the first time Enagic as a team has beaten Okiden, and it's the first time in over a year that Okiden has lost to an Okinawan team. The management was impressed since one of their primary goals was to defeat Okiden in any kind of circumstance. I was extremely blessed to be part of the destruction, throwing 2 scoreless innings in the 6th and 7th.

Now we will be headed to Fukuoka for the 36th annual yakyu senchiken tournament(Company baseball tournament). Please stay tuned!! Blessings from the Lord!

Robby

The New Uni is Finally Here!

I finally recieved my full uniform yesterday. We have two uniform styles; blue with white lettering(pictured above) and all white with blue lettering(not pictured). #30 was the new number of choice. Thanks to my sister, Tiffany, who e-mailed me about having the number 30 in relation to her birthday on the 30th of April. I thought that was a great idea to be able to think of my sister everytime I wear my jersey. Love you Tiffy!

Praise the Lord I was blessed to have my last name on my jersey for the first time. Thanks also to Enagic for allowing me to be a part of the team. Please continue to pray for the team and also for all the baseball players here in Okinawa and also throughout Japan. May they come to know about Jesus as their Lord and Savior!

May all come to know about God's saving grace!! Amen!

God bless you all and look forward to some sweet action coming up!

robert

Another Step

Sunday after church, we had an afternoon game in my hometown of Ginowan down at Okinawa International College. It was more of a practice game leading up to the All-Okinawa tournament in late August. It was such a blessing since church family all came to cheer us on. We ended up winning the game by a large final of 14-7. I was called in the bottom of the 7th to retire the final batter. I then went on to pitch the last 2 innings. I gave up 1 run, 2 hits, 2 walks, 2 strikeouts, in 2 1/3 innings. I was able to get my first save of my career, and a max speed of 140km.

The story of the day was not even about the win...Nor was it about my pitching...It was definitely the 25 or more Japanese and Americans from the church who came out to root on Enagic! After the game, some of the guys and gals took some pics with the coaches. Shuta, our equipment manager, then brought out a stack of hats and passed them out to everyone. Everyone got some sweet gear, and the kids got a sweet memory. It was a great witness to the players, coaches, and the community for most of the church to come out to the game. I hope my coach was encouraged as a Christian and ministered by them in the name of Jesus.

Only the Lord knows what's going to happen next! Thanks to everyone who came and blessed me while I was sweating all over the place! God bless you!! robby

Double Play

back in the game

I had the opportuntiy to pitch in my first game since coming back from Wakayama. I threw 2 innings, (4th and 5th) gave up 2 runs, (1 unearned) along with 2 singles, 4 walks, and 4 strikeouts. I wasn't feeling up to maximum power since I only topped out at 135km (84mph). My location was probably at it's best, except for some close calls from the umpires. All in all, I was just so blessed to be there with the guys on the field and having the chance to compete again! Please pray for the guys on the team. It's all about what God wants to do using this team. The manager is a Christian Japanese man, which is very unusual here in Okinawa. God has given me favor to be on this team, and I just desire to pitch for His glory as long as He allows me to play! God bless u!

robby

Back on the Field

I started practicing with the team on July 1st. I've been practicing at my own pace just trying to get back into baseball condition. Wow is it hot. I practice every morning monday through friday from 9-1. The stadium is located down in Itoman city in Nishizaki Town. It's about 15 minutes south from Naha airport. Please keep me in your prayers as I have developed a real heart for the Itoman area and I'm hoping to eventually move down there in the near future. Ultimately these guys need the Lord Jesus in their lives. May the Lord use my talents in baseball to reach out to these guys and the people in Itoman. God speed!!

Comeback?

Could this be a comeback? A company team called "Energic" has offered me a chance to make a comeback to somewhat professional baseball yet I will be playing for a company team. Well, it's something to definitely keep in prayer. I was invited for a tryout yesterday and was able to meet other players who played pro up in mainland also. The Manager also told us that he also was a christian and became very interested in coming to the Calvary in Ginowan. It was a wildly blessed day, especially hearing about the managers profession of faith in Jesus.

Also, I have been the number 44 for my whole baseball career in Japan, but, now for the first time me having this number is in jepardy since one of the managers holds this number. Please leave a comment and let me know what you think would be a good number for me to have.

God bless you!!

Pro baseball Photos

Please enjoy some of my memories playing pro baseball in Japan!! I was again so blessed to have my dream come true even for such a short period! Jesus is in control! so check 'em out! God bless!!

Retired

The time has come to say goodbye to professional baseball. It was short, yet, absolutely so sweet! I had a wonderful time and I was very blessed by the Lord. Well, I am praying about returning to Teruclinic to play some semi-pro in Okinawa. Baseball is so much fun when you're not getting paid. That may sound funny to others, but for me it wasn't about the money, just being with my team. God has asked me to lay aside pro baseball and to return to what He wants for me in Okinawa. God bless you and thank you for all your prayers as my dream did come true here on Robs Field of Dreams!

Professional Baseball Player of Japan

I'm amazed about the things that have gone on the last few days! Kito and I were thoroughly blessed from our trip to Wakayama! The train systems were a little different from any transportaion in Okinawa. We were able to make it down to Wakayama for the tryout. All I have to say is that it lasted about 30 minutes! I warmed up in the freezing cold for about 20 of those miniutes before playing some catch with a catcher for about 10. From the mound I only threw about 15 pitches before they shut me down. Was something wrong I thought? Usually when you're shut down it means time to pack up and go home. Well, we were actually packing up to head down to the main office for 3 hours to talk about being on the team. We talked about the contract along with all the odds and ends of playing baseball with the team. Afterwards, we headed back into Osaka to be fitted for the uniform at Mizuno sports. The Lord made it so simple when it seemed so difficult. Of course there will be more to come soon. I have to head back to Wakayama before January 27th for an official team introduction. On January 13th is when I became a professional baseball player! Praise the Lord! Thank you to all who continued praying for me and being a big blessing in my life. Also, big thanks to Tokito for being the main man while traveling the mean trains, planes, and subways in Osaka and for being the best super agent an old cat can have! God bless you brother! More to come later! Please stay in tuned!!