21-year-old pitcher Hiroto Takahashi won seven games last season, tied for the most on the team. He entered the bullpen for the first time and expressed his enthusiasm, saying, ''My goal is to pitch in the opening game.'' Pitcher Takhashi played for the Japanese national team at the WBC = World Baseball Classic, which Japan won last year.
He is trying to find the ideal form to throw a strong ball that intimidates batters, while improving his fastest fastball of 158km/h.