The players of the professional baseball team Lotte entered Ishigaki Island, Okinawa, ahead of their camp-in on February 1st, and manager Rito Yoshii said, ``We want to create an environment that is easy for the players to play with a 'player-first' policy and win.'' He expressed his enthusiasm.
Lotte's main players and leaders arrived at the airport on Ishigaki Island where they will be camping on the evening of the 30th, and at the welcome ceremony, local youth baseball players handed out bouquets of flowers to Manager Yoshii, player president Shogo Nakamura, and others. it was done.
Coach Yoshii finished second last season, his first year in charge, and this season he has changed the defensive positions of his players and had them defend multiple positions, such as having Nakamura, who won the Golden Glove Award, play in the third. The plan is to encourage intense regular competition and raise the level of the team's strength.
Coach Yoshii expressed his enthusiasm, saying, ``I want to create a comfortable environment for the players with a 'player-first' policy and win.I want to prepare well so that the season goes well.''
Regarding pitcher Aki Sasaki, whose contract was renewed just before entering camp, he said, ``He's already in his fifth year and pitched to some extent last season, so I'd like to leave it to him to make adjustments.''
Lotte's camp will be held from February 1st to February 26th in Ishigaki Island and Itoman City, Okinawa Prefecture.