There are some new faces on the Baseball Victoria team, and we would love to introduce you to them. Earlier this month, we shared an introduction to Scott McNaughton (General Manager, Operations), and this week, we chat to Micheal Nakamura, our new Head of Baseball Performance.
Micheal is a dual Olympian and former MLB and NPB pitcher who has coached Australian teams at the World Qualifier, MLB Showcase, and senior national level. He is leading our performance and development programs across all pathways – including juniors, women, and men.
Here’s a bit more about Micheal, his baseball history and his baseball goals.
What are the top highlights of your baseball career?
My baseball highlights are representing Australia in the 1996, 2000 Olympic Games and achieving my dream of playing in the MLB and NPB. College baseball was also a huge part of my journey. I met so many wonderful people and learned a lot about independence and resilience.
What are you most excited about in your role at Baseball Victoria?
I am so excited to be a part of Baseball Victoria where I can provide new opportunities and ideas to our members. I look forward to sharing my experiences and knowledge to all members.
What's the best baseball advice you've ever heard?
“It’s not a sprint, it’s a marathon.” So, to put this into perspective, I have never overly concerned myself with immediate accomplishments. I look to the future and how a situation influences the destination I'm aiming for. Road bumps and setbacks are a part of the process.
Favourite sporting moment?
I have a few, but two that really stand out to me were career-changing. The first was my Major League callup in 2003 with the Minnesota Twins and the second was when I played with the Fighters and we won the Japan series in 2006.
Major League team?
I was blessed to play 15 years of professional baseball. I was fortunate enough to wear both MLB and NPB uniforms: Minnesota Twins, Toronto Blue Jays, Hokkaido Fighters, Tokyo Giants and Saitama Lions.
What’s your ideal weekend look like?
My ideal weekend is a relatively early start to the day. A nice family breakfast followed with a round of golf or out fishing.
What are your favourite things to do outside of work?
My favourite things to do outside of baseball are fishing, golf and heading to the farm.