The KBO has the Choi Dong-won Award, and the Major League has the Cy Young Award. This honor is given to the highest pitcher of the year. There is a similar one in Japan. The Sawamura Award is an award in honor of pitcher Eiji Sawamura (1917-1944), who died at the age of 27.
The Sawamura Prize Selection Committee was held at a hotel in Tokyo on the 28th. After discussion, the winners were decided to be announced at 1 p.m. However, the meeting does not end even after a long time of appointment.
Eventually, it took more than 45 minutes for the chairman to appear before reporters. This is Tsuneo Horiuchi, 76, who served as manager of the Yomiuri Giants. His conclusion was “no winners.” This means that there were no qualified candidates.
It is sometimes the case that the Sawamura Prize failed to produce a winner. It is the sixth time since its enactment in 1947 and the first time in five years since 2019.
It was unexpected. This year, the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) suffered from extreme pitching and hitters. While batters failed to display spirit, pitchers flew wild.
The symbolic record is earned run average (ERA). In both leagues, as many as six pitchers were allowed to score one point. The record compares with 2.38 (Chris Sale) in the Major League and 2.53 (James Nail) in the KBO. 안전놀이터
Nevertheless, the team failed to produce a winner. On the surface, the reason is due to strict conditions. To receive the Sawamura Award, he must meet seven records. He has 25th place, 15 wins, 10 complete throws, a winning rate of 60%, 200 innings, ERA of 2.50, and 150 strikeouts. On top of that, QS+ ratio (more than seven innings) will be considered additionally from 2018.
Of course, it’s easy to clear all eight categories. But that’s rare. According to the practice so far, if you meet more than five or six, you will be eligible for an award. There was an example where I got four if it was okay.
Four candidates have been mentioned this year. They include Tomoyuki Sugano (15 wins, 3 losses, ERA 1.67), Hiromi Ito (14 wins, 5 losses, 2.65 losses, Nippon Ham), Kohei Arihara (14 wins, 7 losses, 2.36) and Katsuki Azuma (13 wins, 4 losses, 2.16).
“It was a very difficult selection process. It was too much to announce a winner just because he passed three to four eligibility criteria. We regret that we made such a decision in an era when pitchers are in an advantageous position,” Horiuchi said.
He continued, “The award is named after Sawamura, a great pitcher who is not spending a lot of money. You can’t lower the standard blindly. You need to have some formality and dignity to qualify. Pitchers need to work harder.”
Former Softbank coach Kimiyatsu Kudo, who also participated as a selection committee member, said, “Out of the criteria for selection, 10 complete throws and 200 innings were the most difficult. No one achieved the goal this season.”
The latest recipient of the Sawamura Award is Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who plays for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He was honored for three consecutive years from 2021 to 2023 during the Orix period.
