當野茂英雄在1995年決心挑戰美國職棒大聯盟時，這個決定立刻在日本引發巨大爭議，並遭到日本媒體的廣泛批評。當時的日本職棒（NPB）仍屬於相對封閉的體系，野茂試圖前往海外發展，被視為對長期以來既有制度與潛規則的正面挑戰。由於無法獲得所屬的近鐵猛牛隊同意，他選擇以「任意引退」的方式結束在日本的球員身分，藉此使合約失效。這種做法雖然在法律上並未違規，但在日本棒球文化中卻被視為嚴重破壞慣例的行為，使他一度被貼上「叛徒」的標籤。

這波反彈情緒也與當時的大環境密切相關。大聯盟剛經歷史無前例的罷工風暴，聯盟前景充滿不確定性，日本媒體幾乎一面倒地認為，野茂在此時押上職業生涯前往美國是極度冒險的選擇。尤其是他僅與洛杉磯道奇隊簽下小聯盟合約，儘管附帶約200萬美元的簽約金，仍被形容為一次前途未卜的「出走」。不少評論甚至斷言，日本投手不可能適應大聯盟漫長而高強度的賽季。

外界對他實力的質疑同樣強烈。當時普遍認為，日本職棒投手在球速、體能與耐用度上都難以和大聯盟抗衡。野茂獨特的「龍捲風式」投球動作，在搭配大聯盟每四天先發一次的輪值制度下，更被批評為極容易導致受傷，而非成功的關鍵。許多評論者堅稱，他的投球機制將很快在嚴苛的使用量下崩潰。

然而，這些質疑在野茂真正站上大聯盟舞台後全數被推翻。1995年他在道奇隊的新秀球季表現驚豔，不僅成功立足，甚至席捲全聯盟，掀起所謂的「龍捲風旋風」。他最終奪下國聯新人王，徹底證明外界的看法大錯特錯。更重要的是，野茂的成功為後來無數日本球員前進大聯盟鋪平了道路，也讓他成為改變日本棒球國際地位的真正先驅。

When Hideo Nomo set his sights on Major League Baseball in 1995, his decision immediately sparked controversy in Japan and was widely criticized by the Japanese media. At the time, Nippon Professional Baseball operated in a relatively closed system, and Nomo’s determination to leave was seen as a direct challenge to long-standing norms. Unable to obtain permission from the Kintetsu Buffaloes to move overseas, he chose the drastic route of declaring “voluntary retirement” from NPB in order to void his contract. This maneuver, while technically legal, was viewed within Japanese baseball culture as a serious breach of unwritten rules, earning him the label of a “traitor” in the eyes of many fans and commentators.

The backlash was amplified by the broader environment surrounding his move. Major League Baseball was emerging from a historic players’ strike, leaving the future of the league uncertain. Japanese media outlets overwhelmingly argued that it was reckless for Nomo to gamble his career on such unstable circumstances, especially since he signed only a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, albeit with a sizable signing bonus of around two million U.S. dollars. Many reports framed his departure as an ill-fated “escape,” predicting that a Japanese pitcher would not be able to survive the intensity and demands of the MLB season.

There was also widespread skepticism about his ability to succeed on the field. At the time, the prevailing belief was that NPB pitchers lacked the durability and power to compete in the majors. Nomo’s distinctive “Tornado” pitching motion, combined with the MLB’s every-four-days rotation, was criticized as a recipe for injury rather than success. Critics insisted that his mechanics would quickly break down under the heavier workload.

All of these doubts were ultimately shattered once Nomo reached the big leagues. In his rookie season with the Dodgers in 1995, he not only held his own but dominated, igniting a “Tornado” sensation across baseball. By winning the National League Rookie of the Year award, he decisively proved his critics wrong. More importantly, his success opened the door for future Japanese players to pursue careers in Major League Baseball, establishing Nomo as a true pioneer who changed the global perception of Japanese talent in the sport.