The "Bazooka" of the Hanshin Tigers, a renowned figure in professional baseball, recently embarked on a unique and record-breaking endeavor. Instead of focusing on traditional baseball metrics like transfer fees or pitching speed, this athlete swapped baseballs for paper aircrafts in a quest to set a new Guinness World Record. How should a professional baseball player truly be evaluated? This extraordinary challenge offers a fresh perspective.

Unleashing the Power of the "Bazooka" in the Paper Plane Realm

Section 1: The Challenger - Ryutaro Umeno

Ryutaro Umeno, the strong-armed catcher of the Hanshin Tigers, is no stranger to making an impact on the baseball field. With his powerful throwing capabilities, he has earned the nickname "Umeno Bazooka" and set a Japanese record for the number of assists in a single season in 2019. His acceptance of the Guinness World Record challenge was a moment of excitement, as it presented an opportunity to showcase his skills in a completely different context.The home ground of J-League's Vissel Kobe, Noevir Stadium Kobe, became the stage for this remarkable event. Around 300 spectators gathered to witness Umeno's attempt, adding to the anticipation and excitement.

Section 2: The Support - Nobuaki Fujiwara

Nobuaki Fujiwara, the Japanese record holder for paper airplane flight distance, played a crucial role in Umeno's challenge. While Fujiwara is known for his ability to fold paper planes quickly, spending more than half a day crafting specific planes for this challenge demonstrated his dedication. His standard planes can be folded in as little as three minutes, but for this record attempt, he went the extra mile.The combination of Umeno's baseball prowess and Fujiwara's paper plane expertise seemed like a winning formula. Together, they aimed to break the existing world record and make history.

Section 3: The Attempt and Its Highlights

The event began with 100 people trying their hand at the record, bringing handmade paper planes to the starting line. However, even with a large number of participants, the farthest distance reached was only 20 meters. This served as a reminder that not everyone has the skill and strength of a "bazooka."Then came Umeno, warmed up and ready to throw. With a jaw-dropping speed, his first throw soared to around the 50-meter mark. It was clear that he was on a different level from the amateurs who had tried earlier. On his third throw, he smashed the former Japanese record, achieving an incredible 64.652 meters. This was an astonishing feat, especially considering that he was completely unaccustomed to throwing paper airplanes.Despite continuing to launch plane after plane for a total of 44 attempts, Umeno was unable to reach the world record. He remarked that the lack of a wrist snap in paper plane throwing felt like a disadvantage compared to baseball. Fujiwara, on the other hand, attributed it to issues with the paper airplanes. Nevertheless, the audience was still impressed by Umeno's near-instant break of the Japanese record.

Section 4: What It Means for Baseball Evaluation

This record-challenging event has forced us to re-evaluate our standards for judging baseball players. While traditional metrics like transfer fees and pitching speed are important, perhaps there is more to a player's worth than meets the eye. Umeno's ability to excel in a completely different activity shows that there are hidden talents and skills that may not be immediately apparent.It makes us wonder if we should consider a player's ability to adapt and showcase their skills in unexpected ways. Maybe a player's potential to surprise and achieve in unconventional areas should also be taken into account. This challenge has opened our eyes to a new dimension of what a professional baseball player can be.Photos ©SoraNews24● Want to hear about SoraNews24’s latest articles as soon as they’re published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter![ Read in Japanese ]