Three years ago, it might have been difficult to identify Kiyoshi Nakahata with a Japanese professional baseball team other than the Yomiuri Giants. He played his entire career with the Kyojin, served as a coach with the team after his playing days were finished and stayed in the family as a commentator on telecasts of Giants games on the affiliated Nippon Television (NTV).
Here he is, though, in his third year managing the rival Central League Yokohama DeNA Baystars, and he appears to be taking great delight especially in beating his former club.
Over the years, certain players have insisted they would play for the Giants — and only the Giants. Suguru Egawa, Daisuke Motoki and Hisayoshi Chono are three who rejected their draft selections by other clubs until they were eventually picked by their favorite team at a later time.
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