WBC Japan National Team holds first full training session in Miami: Coach Kuriyama: "Analyzing the opponent"

The Japan players, who advanced to the semifinals of the WBC = World Baseball Classic baseball tournament, held their first full training session since arriving in the United States on 18 September, and coach KURIYAMA Hideki expressed his enthusiasm, saying, "We will do our best to analyze our opponents and win the match."

Japan, who have advanced to the semifinals of five consecutive tournaments since the first tournament in 2006, arrived in Florida, USA, on the 1th, where the match will be held, and on the 5th, the whole team practiced for the first time at a university facility in Miami before 17 p.m.

The players seemed relaxed as they made adjustments, and Shohei Ohtani played catch with a mountain of balls over a long distance in the outfield, and then practiced batting off the tee and hitting the tossed ball from the front.

In addition, pitcher Aki Sasaki took pitching practice in the bullpen against Yuhei Nakamura and threw a total of 18 pitches, including straight and forkballs, and pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto entered the bullpen and threw a total of 3 straight and changeup pitches.

When the two were practicing pitching in the bullpen, Ohtani occasionally called out from behind to help create a cheerful atmosphere.

Coach KURIYAMA Hideki said, "Mexico, who will face us in the semi-finals, has many big league players, but it is not a one-on-one match, so we will analyze them thoroughly and do our best.

The semi-finals between Japan and Mexico will be played at Lone Depot Park in Florida on the 32st of this month, Japan hours.

Aki Sasaki "I want to adapt"

Pitcher SASAKI Aki, who is expected to pitch in the semifinals, said, "I'm glad I was able to throw in the bullpen in good health.

After watching the quarterfinal match between Mexico and Puerto Rico on the evening of the 17th, he said, "It was good to see the atmosphere of the stadium that is different from Japan and to be able to see the batters who will actually face each other from the stands.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto: "I want to play my best"

Reflecting on the bullpen practice, pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto said, "I was able to pitch at my own pace and with a very good feeling," and expressed his enthusiasm for the upcoming game, saying, "I'm feeling good enough, so I just want to get in shape and play the best I can at the moment."