At the training camp of the Japanese national team for the baseball WBC = World Baseball Classic held in Miyazaki City from the 17th, pitcher Yu Darvish of the Major League Padres entered the bullpen for the first time and played a powerful ball. I threw

The WBC Japan representative will hold a training camp at the prefectural sports park in Miyazaki City until the 27th of this month in preparation for next month's tournament.



Padres pitcher Darvish, who is the only one participating from the major leagues, entered the bullpen for the first time on the 18th, the second day of the training camp.



He threw 35 pitches against a sitting catcher while many pitchers, including Lotte pitcher Aki Sasaki, stared intently at him.



Of the 35 balls, 25 were curve balls such as sliders and two-seam balls, and I had the team staff stand at the bat and threw them while imagining the batter.



In addition, I used an IT tool called “Trackman” that quantifies the rotation axis and number of rotations of the ball, and I checked how the ball changed and my form while looking at a tablet that displayed data for each ball.



Darvish said, "I had jet lag and had stiff parts of my body, so I didn't want to throw it too far, but it was warm, so I was able to throw it in a good shape. Next time, I will throw the batter against the opponent. So I want to make adjustments," he said.



Also, on the 16th, Giants pitcher Shosei Togo, who learned how to hold a breaking ball by practicing independently with pitcher Darvish, also entered the bullpen and practiced pitching.



Togo pitched a total of 74 pitches, including straight balls, fork balls, sliders and two-seam balls that he advised, and occasionally checked the curve of the breaking balls with the catcher.



Pitcher Togo said with a fulfilling expression, "I was in good condition and was able to pitch well. Mr. Darvish taught me how to use the slider. I want to throw it in a game as soon as possible."

Aki Sasaki visits "Video shooting"

Lotte pitcher Aki Sasaki, who observed Yu Darvish's pitching practice through the net behind the catcher, said, "He was throwing a really great ball. I took a picture," he said.



And he said, "I was able to hear from Mr. Darvish about the bending of the slider."