As Kosuke Fukudome stepped up to bat in the bottom of the ninth inning in his Major League debut, the Chicago Cubs were down 3-0 to division rival Milwaukee Brewers.

The stage was set for Kosuke to make his name. Derrek Lee and Aramis Rameriz where on second and first base. Eric Gagne was pitching to save the game and give the Brewers their first victory of the year. Kosuke Fukudome had already gathered a single and double as well as a walk in the game. He had done more than many expected after a tough spring training. As Fukudome walked up to the plate with 2 on in the bottom of the ninth, Cubs fans began to chant: “FUKUDOME!”

Kosuke Fukudome took the first pitch for ball one. The count was now 1-0, with any chance of a Cubs comeback on the line. The next pitch Fukudome fouled off for strike one, 1-1. The next pitch ended in a way that couldnt be written any better. Kosuke Fukudome got a pitch waist high, over the heart of the plate. Gone! Kosuke Fukudome hit his first career home run in the bottom of the ninth inning in his first Major League game. Kosuke Fukudome became a hero overnight, and as the ESPN commentator said:

“A star is born!”

The right field fans, who once praised and bowwed at Sammy Sosa’s knees, had found a new love. Fans filled the right field bleachers with signs, hats, and more in Japanese and English, praising their love for the Cubs new right fielder, Kosuke Fukudome.

Although in the end the Cubs could not pull out the W, dropping the game 4-3 in 10 innings, Kosuke Fukudome became a Cubs hero overnight, and promise for the future.

Yesterday on ESPN.com’s weekly chat, where fans ask ESPN analyst questions and they respond with their opinions, a couple fans asked questions regarding Kosuke Fukudome’s poor spring.

ESPN.com

One fan wondered if Fukudome would get off to as slow a career in Major League Baseball as Kaz Matsui, who struggled mightily as a New York Met, but has since shown signs of improvement with the Colorado Rockies, which led to a big deal with the Houston Astros. Kieth Law’s response was:

“I like him better than that. Kaz Matsui had poor walk rates in Japan. That seems to matter for guys who come over.”

Although Kosuke Fukudome has struggled at the plate thus far, he has remained patient at the plate. Compiling 14 base on balls with an on base percentage of .409 through Tuesday evening.

Another fan asked whether is was fair to proclaim Fukudome a bust already. Noting his lack of plate coverage, and coverage, and his bat shattering, weakly hit ground balls. ESPN analyst Tim Kurkjian responded to this noting his poor spring, but stating it is way to early to label Kosuke Fukudome a bust:

“He has not had a good spring, and it is way too early to suggest that he is going to be a bust. Keep in mind that Ichiro hit a bunch of soft singles and weak ground balls to the left side his first spring. Lou Piniella privately wondered if he was going to be able to hit in the bigs. Of course, he went on to be the rookie of the year and MVP. Fukudome is no Ichiro, but he is going to be an above-average major league outfielder who is going to hit between 15 and 20 homers, around .280, and will be well above average on the bases and defensively. It’s a huge adjustment coming from Japan, he hasn’t made it yet, but he will.”

It is crazy to think Cub fans are already upset with Fukudome’s play. Yes, it may be a bit disappointing not to see him producing All-Star numbers right off the bat, but remember, he only has 52 big league at bats thus far. He is still considered a rookie in the Majors. And remember this, his numbers now, if he does make the Hall of Fame someday, won’t matter.