Orix pitcher Shunpei Yamashita, who was named Rookie of the Year in the Pacific League last season, revealed his voluntary training and expressed his determination, ``I want to focus on my ERA and aim for a one-run average.''
Pitcher Yamashita, 21, took to the mound for the first team as a starter in last season's opening game for the first time, and recorded nine wins with pitching that included fastballs with a speed of 160 km/h and sharp breaking balls.
Although he left the team with a back injury at the end of August, he was selected as the Rookie of the Year and is expected to play an active role in the starting pitching staff that has been replaced by pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who has moved to the Dodgers of the Major Leagues.
Pitcher Yamashita released a video of his voluntary training at the indoor practice field of the team's facility in Konohana Ward, Osaka.
After warming up by running and other activities, he made a pitching motion while holding a wooden bat in his right hand, swung his arm, and checked his form.
Also, when playing catch, I was getting a feel for his powerful fastballs and sharp vertical curveballs.
Regarding checking his pitching form using a bat, pitcher Yamashita explained, ``You can use the weight of the bat head to check the trajectory of your arm.If you can't swing your arm, you're using your body incorrectly, so I kept that in mind.'' Did.
The lower back he injured last year has healed, and he expressed his determination for this season, saying, ``As a starter, I want to focus on my ERA and aim for a one-point average.I want to fight until the end and contribute to our fourth consecutive league title.''