MVP Shunsuke Suzuki Dances the Strikeout Dance 9 Times, Motivated by Coach Goto's Sense of Crisis

Fubon Guardians' Japanese pitcher Shunsuke Suzuki threw a personal CPBL best of 9 strikeouts in 7 innings, winning the MVP. He revealed that Coach Goto's tough love kept him motivated.
イベントNQ 0/100出典:PR Times

📋 Article Processing Timeline

  • 📰 Published: April 19, 2026 at 22:07
  • 🔍 Collected: April 19, 2026 at 22:31 (24 min after Published)
  • 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 19, 2026 at 22:42 (10 min after Collected)
Central News Agency

(CNA Reporter Hsieh Ching-wen, New Taipei, 19th) Fubon Guardians' Japanese pitcher Shunsuke Suzuki started today, pitching 7 innings, giving up 1 run, and recording a CPBL career-high 9 strikeouts in a single game. After the game, he danced the strikeout dance 9 times, and his excellent performance helped the team secure a win. Head Coach Mitsutaka Goto's "tough love" kept him fully aware of a sense of crisis.

The Guardians hosted the Uni-President 7-ELEVEn Lions at their home turf, Xinzhuang Baseball Stadium, today. They sent Japanese pitcher Shunsuke Suzuki for his first first-team start of the season. He threw 106 pitches over 7 innings, giving up only 4 hits, recording 9 strikeouts and 1 walk, and allowing 1 earned run. His quality start helped the team win 7-1, and he was named the single-game MVP.

Having thrown a CPBL career-high 9 strikeouts in a single game, he went onto the MVP stage after the match and danced the strikeout dance 9 times. Suzuki stated that the coaching staff reminded him that relaxing is an important principle—to relax, showcase what he does in regular training, and try to extend his pitching innings.

Guardians Head Coach Mitsutaka Goto observed Suzuki's pitching today and noted that his control is much better than last year. He threw every pitch with full effort, but Goto also knows the player has his own thoughts and tried to find ways to extend his innings.

Suzuki has been with the first team recently and often interacts with Goto. Goto previously mentioned that Suzuki always asks a lot of questions. Suzuki revealed that there is a lot of "trash talk" in their interactions; the coach often jokingly tells him, "You are not part of the team's fighting force," and told him before today's game, "Figure it out yourself." Every time he sees Goto, it makes him maintain a sense of crisis and figure out how to deliver a good performance.

Starting the season in the minor leagues (second team), Suzuki delivered a great performance in his first major league (first team) start today. He expressed that his goal every year is to stay in the major league for the entire season. Although starting in the minor league was frustrating, he turned that frustration into motivation, making proactive adjustments in practice and games, and seizing the opportunity when it arrived. (Editor: Chen Jen-hua) 1150419

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