But Mitch could tell Ipe had ambitions beyond the Nippon Ham Fighters.

He loved baseball.

He loved sports.

And I just think that translating was a way to get him into the door to something he loved, you know, and to learn about.

And you get to be around professional athletes, and if you're not an athlete, that's the best way to do it, you know? I think his goal was to go to the States with a major leaguer.

Like, he wanted that one-on-one, not to be, like, owned by a team, if that makes sense, and wanted to come back to the States.

Shohei's locker was next to the American players and gave Mitch a chance to get to know the young phenom.

He was funny, real funny.

Mitch says Ippei became more than just an interpreter to him.

You know, it's a friendship.

It's a coworker-ship, but it also, like, you become friends to a certain point 'cause you're spending eight hours a day minimum with each other.

You know, "Hey, I need a nice restaurant.

Where's a g- place to go?" "No, don't tell me, show me." Like, "Come with me," you know? We'd go to a lot of yakiniku and sushi.

We did karaoke a lot.

I would always sing Backstreet Boys with him [laughs].

But Mitch could tell Ippei had ambitions beyond the Nippon Ham Fighters.