An "Overzealous Admirer" Injured Daisuke Matsuzaka's Shoulder At A Fan Fest

Daisuke Matsuzaka had his fair share of injuries during his time with the Red Sox — from shoulder inflammation to strained rotator cuffs to strained shoulders to strained necks to strained forearms to back injuries to elbow injuries before finally getting Tommy John surgery. But this one right here…this one might take the cake.

The Chunichi Dragons say Matsuzaka is experiencing pain in his right shoulder after an overzealous admirer pulled his throwing arm during a fan event at spring training in Okinawa. Matsuzaka was diagnosed with inflammation in his throwing arm as a result of the incident, and the Dragons on Tuesday told him not to throw for the time being.

There are moments in time where it hits you that you just might not have what it takes anymore, like perhaps throwing 68 MPH on a kiddie radar gun, or when you pull a hamstring running cone drills in a field near Milton, Massachusetts, or when you get injured shaking someone’s hand. This has to be the writing on the wall for ol’ Daisuke after a once promising career.

The man’s a legend in Japan, and that’s never been more evident than having a fan be so excited to meet you that they nearly rip your arm out of its socket. Even though he was a major bust in the United States, no one could ever take his godlike status away from him in his native land.

I mean, shit. He is, after all, a World Series champion. But he was being touted as the Pedro Martinez of Japan and ended up being the Nibbler of Boston. All that talk about the gyro ball. The fucking GYRO ball! Just never lived up to the hype. You’d hate for this to be the end, because shoulder injury via handshake is a tough way to bow out.