Professional baseball Yakult launched a camp in Okinawa on the 28th, and coach Shingo Takatsu nominated pitcher Yasuhiro Ogawa, who achieved a no-hitter no-run last year, as the opening pitcher of this season.
Yakult was the last day of the one-month camp in Urasoe City, Okinawa Prefecture on the 28th, and after the practice game, players and leaders formed a circle centered on the mound.
In this, Manager Takatsu reiterated the theme of this season's team to the players, saying, "We will continue to compete with each other throughout the year and defend one point to get one point."
Then he called the name of pitcher Ogawa and said, "I'll ask for the opening. Please do your best" and nominated him as the opening pitcher.
In response to this, pitcher Ogawa, who appeared in the center of the circle, stated his determination, "If each person continues to take on challenges without fear of change, Swallows will surely grow significantly. Be sure to win." We tightened our hands and launched the camp.
In his ninth year as a professional pitcher, 30-year-old pitcher Ogawa scored 10 wins at the top of the team, which was the first double-digit win in five years, including achieving a no-hitter no-run last season. I exercised, but I signed a new four-year contract and remained.
This is the fifth time in two years that he has been the opening pitcher.
Pitcher Ogawa said, "I want to fight for a year so that I can pull the pitchers without losing rotation."
Director Takatsu said, "It is an absolute requirement for pitchers called opening pitchers and ace to keep the rotation for one year and throw a lot of innings to win. I want to make a good start for the year, so I expect pitching to win." I was talking.
Draft 1st place Rookie Kizawa Practice game pitched 2 times 3 runs
Pitcher Naofumi Kizawa, the first-ranked rookie in the draft of professional baseball and Yakult, started the practice game with the Hanshin Tigers, but left a challenge in control with three goals in the second inning.
Yakult played a practice game with Hanshin on the last day of the camp in Urasoe City, Okinawa Prefecture, and pitcher Kizawa, who joined the team from Keio University in the first draft, went up to the starting mound, which is the second game of the actual game, aiming for the opening rotation. It was.
Pitcher Kizawa lost 3 points after hitting 4 more hits after giving a walk in a row due to the disorder of straight control from the first start.
The straight showed strength such as marking the fastest 151 km, but the scene where the ball preceded and the count was bad continued, spending 54 balls in the second inning, 5 hits, 4 foreballs, 3 runs And left an issue.
And the second pitcher, Taichi Yamano, who joined the team from Tohoku Fukushi University in 2nd place in the draft, went up to the mound of the second game of the actual battle.
Pitcher Yamano made a calm pitching with a changing ball while the straight ball speed was in the low 140km range, and summarized the three innings into three hits, three strikeouts, and one goal.
Pitcher Yamano said, "Because it was the second game, I was calm and I was able to communicate with the catcher. The content was good, but there were some balls that didn't come nicely yet."
Director Shingo Takatsu commented on the two rookies, saying, "Both of them have good and bad points. Today we haven't focused on the result yet, but the next game will be in March when the season is approaching, so we are concerned about the result. It will be a while, "he said, and expressed his intention to continue pitching in the open game of the 1st army.