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Home Where the Ball Is
LONG BEACH.–Practice before a recent game was a typical day for the For one Armada player, however, every part of each day is special, even the most routine aspects. “I love everyday practice, batting and working out, it’s a great feeling,” said second baseman Daisuke Ikenaga. The 26-year-old native of Saitama, Japan, is in his second season in the GBL, after playing for the Japan Samurai Bears in the league’s inaugural season in 2005. At 5-foot-6 and under 160 pounds, Ikenaga is the smallest player on the “I’m thrilled when I get into a game and I think I gain a little self-respect with each little accomplishment. That’s a precious thing,” he said in Japanese. Like other foreign players in the league, Ikenaga has paid his way to get here. The GBL is unable to sponsor athletes, so many are here on tourist visas, that allow them to stay for the entire season but don’t allow them to earn a salary. And like other players from Japan, Ikenaga wasn’t deterred by the immigratory obstacles. “When I was in Japan, I really wanted to play baseball, but I didn’t have much money to come to the U.S.,” he recalled. “Sitting there in Japan, I had no idea about visas and how I would live here. I was working part-time, installing office computers and cables and such.” Two years ago, the members of the Samurai Bears had the support of the “I’d be happy to get paid, but the experience is priceless. I’m playing professional baseball in America, which is exactly what I wanted. Money has no value in that,” he said with pride. Not that just anyone could show up a make a team in the GBL. Though its teams are generally unaffiliated with major league clubs, the games are routinely attended by big league scouts and the competition is fierce. During his initial tryout, Ikenaga impressed with his speed, running the 60-yard dash in 6.8 seconds. After starring for four years at Chuo Gakuin University in Chiba, with a career batting average of .318, Ikenaga joined the All Sangou Baseball Club of Japan’s Industrial League. Many professional players in Japan join these company teams on their way to the pro ranks. After one season there, he was approached about a new league in America. A team from Japan–one that would be a perpetually traveling club–was being formed, with former major leaguer and Tokyo Giants star Warren Cromartie as manager. Ikenaga jumped at the chance. “When I was with the Samurai, I didn’t have much experience, so my confidence was a little low,” he explained. “But playing under a former major league player and coming here was a great time.” Though the Samurai Bears–arguably the league’s most popular attraction in its first season–disbanded and just one year, Ikenaga wasn’t ready to hang up his international spikes. Last year, he traveled to Europe, where baseball has been growing steadily in popularity and participation. He played 28 games for the Mainz Athletics in Germany, batting .233 and stealing 14 bases. Perhaps more importantly, he was proving to himself that he could positively contribute to a team. “Compared to America, the level of playing in Germany isn’t very high, but Last winter, he returned to North America and played winter ball for the Canada Miners of the GBL. As a utility infielder, he batted .265 with a “He’s really improved confidencewise, that’s the main thing,” said Long Evans cited Ikenaga’s strong fundamentals, common among Japanese players at all levels, all the way to the big leagues. “We don’t have to remind him of too many things. We can just put him out there and he knows what he’s doing. He’s not playing every day and that’s a hard thing to do, to come off the bench. But he’s a real enthusiastic kid and he loves to play and he loves to learn, all the things you could ever ask,” Evans explained. Evans’ approach to working with players as a teacher has had a visibly constructive impact on his players. For an athlete like Ikenaga, living unattached in a foreign country, the care of his manager is a crucial component of his support system. “Evans is very open-minded and welcoming. He’s open to any ideas the players have, whether it be during batting practice or the games,” Ikenaga said. “I don’t have a car, so sometimes he gives me a ride home. We’ve talked about his time in the majors and I’ve seen his World Series ring. He really makes us feel us at home.” However, there’s always a certain amount of pressure in any sport, especially at the developmental level. It’s no different for Ikenaga, although he said he’s more relaxed than he was as a member of the Samurai Bears. “Of course, during the games, there’s the nervousness that comes with competition and wanting to do well. Inside, I’m focusing on what is the best approach to take with the abilities I have. So there’s less pressure, but still a little,” he said. “Since I’m not playing every day now, I obviously want to work my way up,” he added. “After this season ends, I’ll look at my options and decide whether it’s worth continuing. At this point I really can’t tell. I’m sure I’ll still want to play somewhere.” Living with a host family arranged by the team in nearby Lakewood, Ikenaga will by 27 on July 17. He said that the help he gets from the team and from his family in Japan helps him cope with the unknowns in the future. “It’s sort of the same as two years ago, with the Samurai. I don’t know myself what’s going to happen during the season. I’m here basically by myself and I often wonder what the best decisions are. For now, I’m dealing with the visa issues myself. There’s a lot of support for me here, though.” With a couple of months remaining in the season, Ikenaga is enjoying pursuing his dream of playing baseball in America. He’s wanted to come to U.S. since playing ball in college and is here now, doing just that, though he does his best to remain grounded and focused. “Maybe this isn’t like a dream really; I just love being here. The atmosphere, the people, the whole experience. I just love it,” he said.
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