Kohei Arihara, a professional baseball pitcher with Softbank who led the team with 10 wins last season, will serve as the opening pitcher this season.
This was revealed on the 22nd in Miyazaki City, where manager Yuki Kokubo is holding spring training.
Arihara, a 31-year-old pitcher, joined Softbank from the Major Leagues last season and led the team with 10 wins.
This is the third time in four years that pitcher Arihara has served as the opening pitcher, the first being in 2020 when he belonged to Nippon-Ham.
Coach Kokubo said, ``He's been throwing the same ball he was throwing at the end of last season, but he's been throwing it since he first entered the bullpen at camp. Considering the state of the bullpen and last year's performance, I thought he was the best fit. I want him to pitch for the team, the fans, and himself."
Pitcher Arihara said, ``I'm glad that I'm feeling strong.I think that my ability to throw with all my strength from the bullpen was appreciated.I worked hard to represent the team and do my best from the first pitch.'' I want to do it," he said enthusiastically.
Softbank will play against Orix, who have won three consecutive league titles, at Kyocera Dome Osaka in their opening game on the 29th of next month.
In addition, Manager Kokubo will appoint Takeshi Wada, the oldest pitcher in the Pacific League who celebrated his 43rd birthday on the 21st, as the starting pitcher for the first game against Lotte in his home base of Fukuoka on April 2nd. I showed my thoughts.
Director Kokubo: A letter to Arihara
Manager Hiroki Kokubo called pitcher Kohei Arihara to his room at the team's dormitory on the 22nd, told him that he would be the starting pitcher, and handed him a letter.
Manager Kokubo did not reveal the contents of the letter, saying, ``I don't know.'' However, pitcher Arihara said, ``I felt the spirit of the person who wrote the letter for me, and I was happy.'' .
According to pitcher Arihara, the letter was spread over two pieces of stationery and contained the thoughts of the commander who had entrusted him with the important role, and the phrase ``cutting the front and back'' left an impression on him.
"Back and forth cutting" means cutting off the past and future and focusing on the present, and is a phrase that Coach Kokubo cherished and wrote on his hat during his playing days.
Pitcher Arihara was determined, ``I thought it was important to focus on what I can do.I want to do what I can to the best of my ability and contribute to the team.''