At a pep rally held in Osaka, Hanshin manager Akifu Okada, who aims to become the first professional baseball team in history to win consecutive Japanese titles, announced that ace pitcher Akihiro Aoyagi will serve as the opening pitcher for this season.
Pitcher Aoyagi will be the opening pitcher for the second consecutive year.
Hanshin won the number one title in Japan last season for the first time in 38 years, and this season they aim to become the first team in history to win consecutive championships.
At the team's pep rally held in Osaka on the night of the 7th, Manager Okada announced that ace pitcher Aoyagi will serve as the opening pitcher.
Pitcher Aoyagi served as the opening pitcher for the first time last season and was expected to play the role of an ace, but due to poor performance, he was forced to adjust to the second team for a while and won only eight games. I am approaching this with a strong determination.
Coach Okada has given high praise to his pitching thus far, saying, ``He has good control this year. I have high expectations for him.''
Pitcher Aoyagi is scheduled to start for the first time this season in the exhibition game against Yakult to be held at Koshien Stadium on the 8th.
Professional baseball will begin on March 29th, with Hanshin facing the Giants at Tokyo Dome.