※Translated with Notion AI. (Plus version)
In a society that values pursuing dreams, what harsh realities of professional baseball confront parents?
At last week’s 2024 professional baseball (NPB) draft conference, 69 roster players and 54 developmental players, totaling 123, were newly selected.
However, behind this, there are players who received dismissal notices in even greater numbers.
In MLB in the United States, while over 550 players are drafted annually, an equal number leave the sport.
In the past, over 1,200 have been drafted, and in this fierce competition, tens of thousands of young people take on the risk called “dreams,” with only a select few achieving success in the professional world.
In Japanese professional baseball, the average retirement age is 29, with an extremely short tenure of 6.8 years.
Particularly, 30% of players who join from high school retire without ever playing in the first team.
Behind the cheers of fans and families, many players are destined to leave with their dreams half-realized.
I have experienced this harsh reality myself, having played as a professional baseball player in both MLB and NPB.
And now, as a parent and former player, what I strongly feel is, “I want children to acquire skills that will lead to their future, rather than just focusing on baseball.”
I understand the beauty of pursuing dreams, but because I know the harshness of the professional world, I hope that children will consider a path that ensures their future security.
