From the Field: Kan Taguchi, OF, Hawaii Pacific
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HEY. Want to feel old? I got one for you.
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I was a batboy for the visiting 2002 Memphis Redbirds. Just one series. They were an interesting club, filled with a mix of both MLB veteran, career minor leaguers, and prospects. Probably the most interesting player on the team was Japanese outfielder So Taguchi, who was a 10-year veteran of the Japanese Pacific League the Cardinals had signed that offseason. Taguchi would move quickly through the St. Louis system and would end the year with the big-league club.
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My only memory of that series was that Taguchi was in a bit of a slump. Late in one of the games, he had a loud flyout. He was back to the dugout, clearly feeling pretty dejected. The team’s catcher walked up to him and gave him a quick hug and some reassurance. It was a pleasant, human moment. It also reminded me that AAA-ball can be stressful. As a fan it’s easy to forget that there are humans behind all these roster spots and stat lines.
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If you don’t remember, Taguchi ended up having a solid MLB career that last eight seasons–two of which ended with World Series championships.
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Anyway. Back to feeling old. Hawaii Pacific son, Kan Taguchi, is a very talented outfielder with Hawaii Pacific. I don’t feel like 2002 was over twenty years ago, but I guess that is as good proof as any.
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Kan Taguchi. He is really good, though. He was one of the main offensive cogs in last year’s club, which was an offensive force. He hit .419 with a fantastic .480 OBP. He went hitless his first game this season, but in the second game he went right back at it, with 3 hits in 6 at-bats. You have to think that he has a career in pro ball when his time at HPU is up. We are lucky to have him.