100%CardsFan
100% embarrassed
Indians' prospect says he regrets role in porn film
Knight Ridder
Jan. 28, 2004 09:45 AM
CLEVELAND - It was not just another day at the office for Kazuhito Tadano.
On the other hand, the Japanese prospect who signed with the Indians for the modest sum of $67,500 - chump change to far less talented pitchers taken in June's draft - has been through this before.
The story broke last summer, when Tadano already was mowing down hitters at Class A Kinston.
While he was a college student in Japan and a prime prospect to be drafted in his own country, Tadano agreed to appear in a gay porn film.
He refused to take a group of reporters through the entire story Tuesday afternoon at Jacobs Field, but Tadano wrote out a statement and read it in halting English. His translator, Dan Watabe, reread the mea culpa.
"I did participate in the video and I regret it very much," Tadano said. "It was a one-time incident that showed bad judgment and will never be repeated.
"I was young, playing baseball and going to college, and my teammates and I needed the money. Frankly, if I were more mature and had really thought about the implications of what I did, it never would have happened."
Tadano went on to say he was "embarrassed," that "all of us have made mistakes" . . . and that "hopefully you learn from them and move on."
When Tadano was assigned to Kinston, he stood in front of his teammates and told them his story. When he was promoted to Akron, he did the same.
Grady Sizemore, possibly the brightest prospect in the Tribe farm system, listened to Tadano's confession in the Aeros' clubhouse.
"I think it was very tough for him," Sizemore said Tuesday. "You could tell he was nervous."
Sizemore, and apparently Tadano's other teammates at Class A and Double-A, seem to have taken him at his word. There have been no incidents of abuse or harassment reported.
"He let us know that we could trust him as a teammate and as a player," Sizemore said. "It's not what he did in the past. He's a great teammate. Off the field, he's awesome, a funny guy. He makes friends easily."
Tadano and Sizemore have been roommates during the Indians' winter development program. Well, not quite. Tadano contracted a severe case of the flu in early January and spent almost a week in the hospital.
"I still think he's sick as a dog," Sizemore said. Tadano didn't mind being asked about his sexual preference.
"I'm not gay," he said through his interpreter. "I would like to clear that up right now."
Unquestionably, coming clean has been the right thing for Tadano to do.
"It feels like a great weight has been taken off my shoulders," he said. "When I explained what happened to my teammates at Kinston and Akron, they gave me full support. They don't look at me in an eerie way."
If and when Tadano reaches the big leagues, he could be in for a rude reception by rival fans and opposing players. That question led to the only light moment of the news conference.
"It won't mean anything, because I don't understand English," Tadano said, drawing laughs from his audience.
Tadano will begin spring training in big-league camp. The 23-year-old right-hander is given an outside chance of making the Tribe bullpen after going 4-1 with three saves and a 1.24 earned-run average at Akron and posting a 2-1 record with a 1.89 ERA at Kinston. He also made two appearances at Class AAA Buffalo and gave up three runs in seven innings.
"Kazuhito is extremely athletic," general manager Mark Shapiro said. "He fields his position well, holds runners and has an above-average out pitch (forkball). He also has some deception.
"There is going to be lots of competition for three spots in the bullpen. If I had to guess, Tadano will make his major-league debut sometime this year. But it's somewhat of a long shot for him to make the team out of spring training."
Not if you believe Sizemore.
"He just shut people down (at Akron), in the playoffs especially," the outfielder said. "He owned both teams we played in the playoffs. He had four or five solid pitches, and his slider was ridiculous."
But in Tadano's case, making it to the big leagues might be only the beginning of the struggle to prove he belongs.
Knight Ridder
Jan. 28, 2004 09:45 AM
CLEVELAND - It was not just another day at the office for Kazuhito Tadano.
On the other hand, the Japanese prospect who signed with the Indians for the modest sum of $67,500 - chump change to far less talented pitchers taken in June's draft - has been through this before.
The story broke last summer, when Tadano already was mowing down hitters at Class A Kinston.
While he was a college student in Japan and a prime prospect to be drafted in his own country, Tadano agreed to appear in a gay porn film.
He refused to take a group of reporters through the entire story Tuesday afternoon at Jacobs Field, but Tadano wrote out a statement and read it in halting English. His translator, Dan Watabe, reread the mea culpa.
"I did participate in the video and I regret it very much," Tadano said. "It was a one-time incident that showed bad judgment and will never be repeated.
"I was young, playing baseball and going to college, and my teammates and I needed the money. Frankly, if I were more mature and had really thought about the implications of what I did, it never would have happened."
Tadano went on to say he was "embarrassed," that "all of us have made mistakes" . . . and that "hopefully you learn from them and move on."
When Tadano was assigned to Kinston, he stood in front of his teammates and told them his story. When he was promoted to Akron, he did the same.
Grady Sizemore, possibly the brightest prospect in the Tribe farm system, listened to Tadano's confession in the Aeros' clubhouse.
"I think it was very tough for him," Sizemore said Tuesday. "You could tell he was nervous."
Sizemore, and apparently Tadano's other teammates at Class A and Double-A, seem to have taken him at his word. There have been no incidents of abuse or harassment reported.
"He let us know that we could trust him as a teammate and as a player," Sizemore said. "It's not what he did in the past. He's a great teammate. Off the field, he's awesome, a funny guy. He makes friends easily."
Tadano and Sizemore have been roommates during the Indians' winter development program. Well, not quite. Tadano contracted a severe case of the flu in early January and spent almost a week in the hospital.
"I still think he's sick as a dog," Sizemore said. Tadano didn't mind being asked about his sexual preference.
"I'm not gay," he said through his interpreter. "I would like to clear that up right now."
Unquestionably, coming clean has been the right thing for Tadano to do.
"It feels like a great weight has been taken off my shoulders," he said. "When I explained what happened to my teammates at Kinston and Akron, they gave me full support. They don't look at me in an eerie way."
If and when Tadano reaches the big leagues, he could be in for a rude reception by rival fans and opposing players. That question led to the only light moment of the news conference.
"It won't mean anything, because I don't understand English," Tadano said, drawing laughs from his audience.
Tadano will begin spring training in big-league camp. The 23-year-old right-hander is given an outside chance of making the Tribe bullpen after going 4-1 with three saves and a 1.24 earned-run average at Akron and posting a 2-1 record with a 1.89 ERA at Kinston. He also made two appearances at Class AAA Buffalo and gave up three runs in seven innings.
"Kazuhito is extremely athletic," general manager Mark Shapiro said. "He fields his position well, holds runners and has an above-average out pitch (forkball). He also has some deception.
"There is going to be lots of competition for three spots in the bullpen. If I had to guess, Tadano will make his major-league debut sometime this year. But it's somewhat of a long shot for him to make the team out of spring training."
Not if you believe Sizemore.
"He just shut people down (at Akron), in the playoffs especially," the outfielder said. "He owned both teams we played in the playoffs. He had four or five solid pitches, and his slider was ridiculous."
But in Tadano's case, making it to the big leagues might be only the beginning of the struggle to prove he belongs.
