*This content was translated by AI.
Takahiro Arai (49), head coach of Hiroshima Toyokaf, who usually shared high-fives with players without hesitation, became a completely different person. Faced with his player's shocking drug scandal, he unleashed anger at the players at the camp site, terrorizing the squad. Local media expressed anger.
According to multiple Japanese media, including East Japan Sports, Hiroshima began spring camp for the 2026 season in Miyazaki, Japan, on the 1st. It was a happy day to welcome the new season, but the atmosphere on the site was simply cold. On January 27, just before the camp, infielder Ryutaro Hatsuki (26), a key opponent resource in the team, was arrested by Hiroshima Prefectural Police on charges of administering the banned drug "Etomidate," which is called "zombie cigarette." In particular, Hatsuki played a key role as a pinch runner to the extent that he played 74 games in the first division in the 2025 season. Hatsuki's annual salary in the 2026 season was 31 million yen (about 300 million won), up 8 million yen (about 75 million won) from the 2025 season. However, the suspension of baseball-related activities has now been imposed.
Hatsuki is accused of administering "zombie cigarettes" containing "Etomidate," which was designated as a banned drug in Japan, around December 16 last year. The player himself denies the allegations, saying he has "no memory," but his urine test showed a positive result. Etomidate is used overseas as a general anesthetic inducer, but in Japan, it is managed as a 'prohibited drug' due to concerns over misuse and is strictly prohibited from possession or use. In Korea, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (Ministry of Food and Drug Safety) designated "Etomidate" as a drug in August last year, strengthening its management.
In particular, etomidate is a dangerous drug nicknamed "zombie cigarette" because the body convulses when administered and walks like a zombie. Recently, it has rapidly spread among young people in Japan and has emerged as a social problem.
The incident is similar to the drug scandal of Oh Jae-won (41), which shook the Korean baseball community in 2024, and is also shocking to domestic fans. Critics point out that the player's moral hazard is the "Japanese version of the Oh Jae-won incident" in that it tarnished the image of the entire team and shook the season's plans.
The Hiroshima team also has a chaotic atmosphere. Local police conducted a surprise raid on the home stadium of Hiroshima, Mazda Stadium and the club's practice range just before the first training session to see if there were any additional people involved in the player's habitual administration and the Hiroshima club. Reports from the Ministry of Social Affairs, not in charge of sports, also went to the Miyazaki camp site to check the atmosphere of the Hiroshima team. It is said that it has already detected circumstantial evidence that additional baseball players are involved.
According to a report by Dongilbon Sports on the 2nd, Hiroshima coach Arai criticized the team in a furious tone on the day before the camp on January 31, saying, "If there is a player who once again blames the team's reputation or shows an indolent attitude, I will not let you go then." An official from the Hiroshima team said, "The atmosphere was so cold that it reminded me of a martial arts movie. The players were also overwhelmed by the atmosphere to the extent that they couldn't even breathe."
Coach Arai, who made an official appearance on the first day of the camp on the 1st, was extremely quiet in front of reporters. It is said that the official welcoming ceremony ended with a short greeting of about 30 seconds. Although he did not directly mention Hatsuki's real name, he represented his current feelings with his tightly clenched lips and sharp eyes.
Oh Jae-won, who had a brilliant career during his active career, has been judged by the law for crimes that shake the foundation of the baseball community, such as habitual drug use and surrogate prescriptions using juniors. Hatsuki is also reminded of the fear of the "drug brutality" left by the Oh Jae-won scandal, given that it was a scandal that broke out at a time when the team's expectations were met, and that other players were already on the investigation list.
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*This content was translated by AI.
