Photo/Illutration Munetaka Murakami practices at the Samurai Japan training camp for the World Baseball Classic at Hinata Sun Marine Stadium in Miyazaki on Feb. 21. (Naoko Osaka)

MIYAZAKI—Youth prevailed in a dream matchup between a veteran major league star and a likely future one.

Yu Darvish stood still on the mound after watching one of his best pitches sail into the centerfield screen stand, courtesy of Munetaka Murakami.

The matchup was a treat for baseball fans who packed Hinata Sun Marine Stadium in sunny Miyazaki to watch the Samurai Japan national team train on Feb. 21 for the World Baseball Classic tournament.

It was also a special moment for Murakami, the Tokyo Yakult Swallows slugger, even before he stepped into the batter’s box.

“I knew that he throws really fast balls,” Murakami said.

Murakami, 23, and other players showed up for a batting practice session, where Darvish of the San Diego Padres and other pitchers were making adjustments.

The gloves came off when Murakami, the home run king and triple crown winner in Nippon Professional Baseball, went one-on-one against his idol.

Darvish appeared in control for the first three pitches. He turned to his reliable two-seam fastball for the fourth one.

Murakami timed it perfectly, crushing it over the wall in centerfield.

Darvish said he left the pitch “mid-high.” But he added, “Still, even major leaguers cannot hit that ball that easily.”

Murakami was exuberant.

“He was a pitcher I used to watch on TV,” Murakami said. The homerun “will go down as an unforgettable moment.”

Darvish, 36, is the oldest player on the Samurai Japan roster.

A former star with the Nippon-Ham Fighters, Darvish just completed his 12th season in the major leagues.

He was also sensational at the 2009 WBC. He was the winning pitcher in the final, which Japan won in the 10th inning against South Korea.

At that time, Murakami was a 9-year-old schoolboy staring at his heroes on a TV screen.

Fourteen years have passed since then.

Now the two are wearing the same jersey, intent on reclaiming the world No. 1 title for Japan.

Murakami has expressed his intention to play in the big leagues as soon as he becomes eligible.

Darvish gave his seal of approval, saying Murakami “will likely play in the majors someday.”

“He is the kind of player who can change the reputation of Japanese baseball players,” Darvish said.

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