“I Want to Keep Playing Baseball a Little Longer” — Takahiro Nakamura Reflects on a Season of Struggle After Hiroshima Carp Release

The Hiroshima Toyo Carp announced a second round of releases on October 24, informing six players that they would not be offered contracts for the 2027 season: Makoto Kemna, Tatsuya Matsumoto, Ginji Hasebe, Haruki Hidaka, Takahiro Nakamura, and Taiga Tsuji.

Nakamura, 26, joined the Carp as the second pick in the developmental draft in 2022. He impressed with his power early in the 2023 season and earned a promotion to the club’s regular roster in May of his rookie year. He also recorded his first professional hit that season.

However, he did not appear in a first-team game in either of the past two seasons, including 2026.

Takahiro Nakamura: Interview

On receiving the news

Q: How did you feel when you were told you would not be offered a contract?

Nakamura: I feel disappointed. I also feel sorry to the scout who selected me. I’m sorry that I couldn’t repay the faith they showed in me.

Q: You didn’t get an opportunity to play for the first team this season. How did you approach the year?

Nakamura: I didn’t get to play much even with the farm team this year, so I had this strange feeling. More than anything, I just wanted to play baseball.

Q: Was it a year with more difficult moments than good ones?

Nakamura: Yes, it was difficult. But I suppose that’s life.

Memorable moments with the Carp

Q: What is your most memorable moment or game from your time with Hiroshima?

Nakamura: The game that stands out most was my first appearance at Koshien after I was promoted from the developmental roster to the regular roster.

Q: Do you remember the fans’ cheers and the atmosphere in the stadium?

Nakamura: Yes, I remember. There were a lot of people in the stands. I was enjoying the moment, and I really wanted to get a hit on that stage.

Q: Do you have a message for the fans?

Nakamura: So many people supported me. I just want to say thank you for cheering me on over these four years.

Q: What would you like to say to the organization?

Nakamura: The club took care of me for four years, but I wasn’t able to make much of an impact. I’m sorry I couldn’t perform well enough.

His plans for the future

Q: What are your plans from here?

Nakamura: I’m going to keep playing baseball. More than anything, I want to play in NPB. I’m still a little undecided about whether to take part in the tryout.

Q: Did the club discuss any options for your future with you?

Nakamura: No, they didn’t.

Q: Any final message for the fans?

Nakamura: My four years here were short, but the support I received helped me keep going. I’m truly grateful. Thank you very much.

A Season of Experimentation with the Farm Team

Nakamura continued trying to find his form throughout the season. As the autumn Miyazaki Phoenix League approached, he was reportedly showing signs of improvement.

Q: You were said to have made considerable progress by the time you headed to the Phoenix League. Were you feeling more confident in your hitting?

Nakamura: It was around the Phoenix League that my own style of hitting finally started to come back. I thought I could do it. But there’s no point dwelling on what happened now. Rather than looking down, I want to focus on doing better next time. That’s how I feel.

Q: Will you continue training from here?

Nakamura: I feel that I’ve worked hard, at least for now. I’d like to take a little time to relax and do what I want for a while.

Q: Looking at your hitting this season, what wasn’t working?

Nakamura: Until last year, I was doing things according to my own feel, and that worked well. But I struggled at the beginning of this season. I listened to different people’s advice and tried putting it into practice, but it didn’t really fit what I wanted to do. It felt wrong for me. Throughout the season, I was caught between the feeling that I couldn’t hit that way and the need to keep trying.

Q: So, from around the Phoenix League, did you start trusting your own instincts again?

Nakamura: By then, deep down, I thought my time might be coming to an end. I wanted to have no regrets. Power hitting has always been my strength, so I decided to go back to my own feel at the plate. Things started getting better after that.

I want to keep playing baseball a little longer, but there’s nothing I can do about the decision.

Q: Thank you for your time.

Nakamura: Thank you.