When the Rakuten Team's lead-off hitter, Seijima Ryosuke, gripped his bat and entered the batter's box, countless pairs of eyes in the stands of Yahoo Dome, among the reporters, and in front of televisions were fixed on Lin Guanglai on the pitcher's mound, eager to see how he would perform in his professional baseball debut.
To be an 18-year-old starting pitcher for the opening game is a feat that hasn't happened in Japan for decades; coupled with Lin Guanglai's status as a Koshien star, ever since the starter list was officially released yesterday, various forces have been fueling the excitement for this game.
