Manager Shinjo, known for his unconventional decisions, has sparked a debate over the introduction of the designated hitter rule in Japan's Central League. His argument centers on the league's need for a strategic shift to maintain competitiveness and engagement.

Baseball is one of the most popular sports in Japan, with a high level of societal involvement and passion. The designated hitter rule — widely used in American baseball — brings new strategic dynamics and controversies. In Japan, this issue is deeply debated among fans, players and league officials, and it involves considerations related to tradition, sporting spirit, and tactical depth in the game.

In the US, Major League Baseball employs the designated hitter rule in the American League while excluding it from the National League, creating strategic differences between the leagues. The EU doesn't have a professional baseball league equivalent to Japan or the US, but it generally adopts the rules of the International Baseball Federation, which include the designated hitter.