FORT MYERS, Fla. — Roman Anthony was on-deck to face a minor leaguer on the back fields earlier this week, when a tall righty walked up the fence and made a comment about him wearing the No. 19. It was Koji Uehara, the former World Series-winning closer, who wore No. 19 during his four seasons for the Boston Red Sox.
Uehara retired after the 2017 season, but his unearthly performance during the 2013 season (for a Red Sox bullpen that featured both chief baseball officer Craig Breslow and pitching coach Andrew Bailey) remains one of the greatest closer performances in team history. He posted a 1.09 ERA and 101 strikeouts over 73 appearances. For context, Aroldis Chapman posted a 1.17 ERA and 85 strikeouts in 67 appearances last season.
The 50-year-old Uehara now works for Tokyo Broadcasting Systems. His main role with the news station is as a commentator on a program called Sunday Morning, but he also appears on a news show called Sports One.
Uehara also hosts a wildly popular YouTube channel, Koji Uehara Zatsudan, with over one million subscribers. The show features sit-down conversations (“zatsudan” roughly translates to “chat” in English) with current and former Japanese players. Uehara also tells stories from his playing career in the majors and Nippon Professional Baseball.
Known as much for his dominance on the mound as for his affable personality, working in the media seemed to be a natural fit for Uehara, who was approached to work for Tokyo Broadcasting Systems in 2020. The YouTube channel began shortly thereafter.
“I retired and was not able to play as I used to, so I transitioned to the media field so I can continue my career as a reporter,” Uehara said on Thursday through an interpreter.
“I was having a lot of extra time after I retired and someone approached me asking if I wanted to do this YouTube channel,” he added. “I always have a guest come in, so it’s nothing too difficult, but just what I’m thinking about.”
Uehara was in Red Sox camp working on a piece for Sports One about Masataka Yoshida ahead of the World Baseball Classic. Yoshida is headed to play for Team Japan, the reigning WBC champions.
Because Team Japan will have Shohei Ohtani as its designated hitter, Yoshida will play left field and has seen increased time there in camp. Uehara said Yoshida looks good so far, one year removed from shoulder surgery.
“I’ve been watching him throw and he doesn’t have any problems with his arm,” Uehara said. “We interviewed him and he said he’s very comfortable.”
Yoshida expressed frustration last week with how his time in Boston has gone, given his injuries and inconsistent play. Uehara sees Yoshida as ready for a fresh season.
“He is relaxed and having a great time,” Uehara said.
Uehara lived in Naples, Fla., during his playing days, but he and his family moved to Sarasota to be closer to IMG Academy, where his son Kaz went to high school. Kaz is currently in college and no longer playing baseball, but Uehara splits time between living in Sarasota and Tokyo. His home in Florida helps him make trips during the baseball season to major-league parks to interview players as he continues to grow his broadcasting career.
As for Anthony, Uehara feels his old No. 19 is in good company.
“This Boston team has big expectations for him, so I’ll be watching out for him,” he said.
Upcoming pitching plans
Cora laid out some pitching plans for the upcoming week of games. Tyler Uberstine will start Friday against Northeastern with Wyatt Olds, Noah Song and Jeremy Wu-Yelland in relief.
Payton Tolle is set to start Saturday’s Grapefruit League opener against the Minnesota Twins and Joe Ryan. Tyler Samaniego, Garrett Whitlock and Rule 5 pickup Ryan Watson are set to follow Tolle.
Brayan Bello is in line for Sunday’s start, with Jovani Moran, Greg Weissert, Alec Gamboa and Devin Sweet in relief.
Connelly Early, Ranger Suárez, Johan Oviedo and Garrett Crochet are lined up to start on Monday through Thursday. Crochet is last in line, so he’s lined up for his Opening Day start on March 26.
Anthony, Ceddanne Rafaela, Willson Contreras and Wilyer Abreu are all scheduled to start games this weekend as they ramp up play before leaving for the WBC on March 1.
Oviedo’s intrigue
Oviedo, who stands at 6-foot-6, is among the biggest pitchers in camp. The Red Sox traded for him in December in part for his elite extension. Strike-throwing will remain key, but Cora liked what he saw in a two-inning live BP on Friday. One thing the Red Sox want him to focus on is a quicker delivery. Cora said they want him to be more “explosive” down the mound.
“If the velo goes up, great, but just maximize who you are and his extension is elite,” Cora said.
Camp standouts
Thursday marked the final full day of workouts before games begin, and Cora was asked who’s stood out to him most. His answer: Mikey Romero, Andruw Monasterio and Isiah Kiner-Falefa
“I truly believe there’s more from all three of those guys,” Cora said.
Romero, a 2022 first-rounder, has battled injuries throughout his minor-league career, stunting his progression. In his first healthy season last year, the lefty hitter posted a .751 OPS with 17 homers over 111 games between Double-A Portland and Triple-A Worcester.
He’s not on the 40-man roster but is seemingly in contention for a call-up should the Red Sox need another infielder at some point this season.
“You see the physicality of Romero,” Cora said. “He’s strong, stronger than last year. From me, I want to see him at second base and see how it plays out. He did an amazing job (adding strength) in the offseason.”
Monasterio, a right-handed hitting utility infielder on the 40-man who was added in the Caleb Durbin trade, has been working out alongside the starting infielders and could be in the mix for a big-league bench role. He posted a .755 OPS last season in 68 games for Milwaukee with an .837 OPS against lefties.
“You see him from afar, but then you see him here, and it’s like, ‘Oh shoot. He can move,’” Cora said. “He’s versatile. He can hit lefties. He has some pop. Now we have to work with it.”
Kiner-Falefa, having signed a one-year, $6 million deal just before camp, should make the roster as a utility infielder. With Romy Gonzalez still not ready for baseball activities, Kiner-Falefa will be the backup first baseman for now, but is also expected to see time at shortstop to give Trevor Story days off.
“I had a chance to spend time with Izzy yesterday, we had dinner,” Cora said. “Like (Justin Turner) and (Rob Refsnyder), he knows the game.”