By IAN WILSON
He’s been a homer happy Hawaiian.
Jake Hiromoto, who plays third base for the Swift Current 57’s, has been bashing baseballs out of Western Canadian Baseball League (WCBL) ballparks all season and, as a result, he’s been neck-and-neck for the league lead in homers midway through the campaign.
The 6-foot-2 corner infielder from Honolulu has been filling up boxscores and has earned a spot on the East Division All-Star roster for the upcoming All-Star Weekend festivities in Saskatoon, taking place July 18-19.
Through 30 WCBL games, Hiromoto has a .371 batting average, .436 on-base percentage, 1.160 OPS, 32 runs, 39 RBI, eight doubles, four stolen bases and 11 home runs.
Not too bad for the University of San Francisco student.
Hiromoto made time recently for Joe McFarland, the host of Alberta Dugout Stories: The Podcast.
Based on that conversation, here is the latest edition of 7th Inning Stretch:
1. The numbers speak for themselves, but I’m curious, how are you feeling about your season so far in the WCBL?
I love it here. I mean, it’s a super competitive league, as we’ve seen. You know, you can get mercy ruled by one team one night and just come back the next day and just mercy rule someone else. And that’s what’s really cool.
Swift Current is an awesome place. The fans are amazing here. I love the environment that we are in. And the 57’s, you know, our record doesn’t show what we are capable of, I think. We’ve had a slow start, but I think as we get the ball rolling … we’re going to keep building on that. And I think that we can be a top team in this league when it’s all said and done.
2. What’s the vibe in the clubhouse now that you’re all kind of getting to know each other finally and bringing all the pieces together and knowing your roles, so to speak?
The vibe in the clubhouse has never changed. When we were down, we might have been like five or six games on a losing streak, but the vibes never changed. The guys stay the same. Everybody’s there for each other. Everyone’s fighting for each other. Everyone has a common goal, and we all want to win. And it’s not selfish baseball over here.
I think it all starts from the top. Coach Jared Franklin has done a really good job bringing in good guys, bringing a team in that, win or lose, we’re gonna have fun. We’re gonna have fun on our bus ride back. And I think that is super important. Having a good clubhouse and everyone’s getting comfortable with each other.
We all know what we’re capable of doing. And yeah, everyone knows their roles … and as long as we continue to rely on each other and continue to trust each other, I think we’re going to get a lot of wins.
3. You might have one of the hottest bats across the entire circuit right now. What’s been key to your success so far?
I think it’s just trusting my game plan and trusting the guys around me. Whether it’s just Keagan Knowler, I mean, he’s been a hot bat as well. With him behind me, I know that I can take a walk and we’re still going to produce runs and and I think that’s huge. I think it’s big to trust the guys around you, trusting your process, trusting what the coaches give you.
I came in to this league with a big leg kick and coach said maybe we should change something up and I have full trust in him and everything that he has told me. And just in BP, working on different things, getting outside of your comfort zone. In summer ball, you want to try new things, and that’s what’s the biggest thing for me. It’s just trusting the people around you, trusting your support system, and everything will work out.
4. It’s funny how a minor little adjustment, like a leg kick, can make a world of difference. I’m curious, coming into the summer, did you have any expectations or goals for yourself?
I think for me it was just kind of getting more at bats and getting more experience, because in this past season, I maybe had only a handful of at bats, so just getting my experience. As a freshman, I got my toes wet a little bit, but now I’m just kind of trying to take the next step in my game, trying to become a better ball player, trying to become a better teammate, and trying to step up in the role.
5. What’s it been like coming from Hawaii originally, then you go to San Fran, and now Swift Current, Saskatchewan? What’s that been like?
I’m not going to lie, there was definitely some nerves coming from Hawaii to Swift Current, you know, just not knowing what it’s going to be like, the unknown … just staying with a new family, starting with a new team, not knowing anybody on my team. And everything has been so awesome. I got no bad things to say, and I’m just so grateful for everything that everyone around here has done for me. because I wouldn’t be here without my billets or without my teammates, and it was a big jump for sure.
When I got here, I was like, ‘Damn, what am I going to do on my off time?’ That type of stuff, because I’m so used to being 20 minutes away from the beach, going on hikes and stuff. And that’s what was different. But honestly, I really love it. And if I had to do it over again, I would choose this place again.
6. What have you liked most about Canada?
I would say that the people are so cool, man. Everybody here is just, it’s just really like, they’ll do anything for you, even if it’s outside of my billet family, they’re super, super nice. And it’s really, really cool to see that and see a whole community support one team. We’re not even winning right now and everybody’s just showing out to the games. You got little kids, Little League teams coming out to the games, supporting us and that’s what’s really cool and that’s what makes playing baseball really, really fun.
7. What would it mean to you to bring the 57’s back into a spot where they’re competing and contending for a playoff spot and potentially winning a championship?
It would mean the world to me and that’s my biggest goal above any individual award. It’s just bringing in a team championship and bringing in a winning culture. It would mean the world. I just want to win for Swift Current, win for the boys, and everyone … all our hard work, I hope it goes to something good. And when I go to the gym, I see a bunch of boys there, and that’s what fires me up. And I think we do have a winning culture here, and I think we will win a lot of ball games coming up.
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