Former big leaguer So Taguchi has been touted as a candidate to manage the Pacfic League's Orix Buffaloes next year and does dreams of managing one day — but in the United States rather than Japan.
"My final dream is to manage over there, be the first Japanese," he told Kyodo News on Friday at Tokyo Dome. "I've held on to that final dream all this time. I don't know how things will actually turn out, of course."
Taguchi, who began his career with Orix and retired with the Buffaloes after the 2011 season, spent eight seasons in the big leagues, the first six with the St. Louis Cardinals, where he formed a bond with Hall of Fame manager Tony La Russa. During his playing days, Taguchi would quiz the skipper about his in-game moves, and La Russa was eager to satisfy his outfielder's thirst for knowledge.