Pitcher Yasuhiro Ogawa has been the starting pitcher for the Yakult professional baseball team for three years in a row. Pitcher Ogawa is nicknamed ''Ryan'' because he raises his left foot to the height of his face, similar to Nolan Ryan, a former fastball pitcher in the major leagues.
Ogawa expressed his desire to play a major role for the fourth consecutive year, saying, ``I will be the first to aim for the opening pitcher''... and run first.