Despite swearing by its "Vision 2025" philosophy, Lotte finished last this season with 56 wins, 84 losses and 3 ties, and is now making big moves towards 2026.
Manager Yoshii Masato will retire at the end of this season, and next season the team will aim to make a comeback under new manager Saburo, who has been Lotte's second-team manager since 2023 and first-team head coach since midway through this season. At his inauguration press conference held at Zozo Marine Stadium on the 8th, Manager Saburo said with enthusiasm, "We are by far the last place this year, so I think it will be difficult to build a team, but we will eliminate any complacency and practice rigorously next season, and since we have a team with many young players, I want to make it a team that can soar."
As soon as the inaugural press conference was over, fall practice began. pitcher The fall practice began as soon as the inauguration was over. Kazuya Ojima, who reached the regulation innings pitched mark for the fifth consecutive year, and Atsuki Taneichi, who was selected to represent Japan in the "Rugsas Samurai Japan Series 2025" to be held on November 15 and 16, were the main players in the fielder group. Kyota Fujiwara, who became the first high school graduate in seven years to reach the regulation batting lineup, Misho Nishikawa, who recorded a league-leading 27 doble in his rookie season, and , the first player up to his second year of high school graduation in the 21st century to reach the century record of 100 , were among the young players participating in the fall practice. Ryusei Terachi The team's young players, including the first player in the 21st century to reach 100 hit in a season, are taking part in fall practice.
On the 9th, the second day of fall practice, after warming up, fielder completed a running menu, followed by base running practice, defense practice, and defense practice. For infielder, Coach Emura Naoya batted for first baseman and second baseman base, while Coach Nemoto Shunichi batted for third and short stop. With only a small number of participants in fall practice, there was almost no waiting time. It was soon my turn to bat. My feet had been moving nonstop since the morning.
After defense practice, it was batting practice, but it was done in one cage, and on the bases, they practiced base running, tee hitting, and bunting practice against the machine in rotation. Individual practice was divided into batting and defense (catcher, infield, outfield), and Teraji, whose individual practice on this day was batting practice, put on protective gear without taking a break after batting practice and practiced defense one-on-one with Coach Emura.
It was a start that hinted at a tough autumn training session. The team announced the autumn training schedule on the 10th, with the Miyazaki Phoenix League running until October 27th, and autumn training in Miyazaki starting two days later on October 29th. The participating members have not been announced, but autumn training will run until November 17th, and players taking part in autumn training and the Phoenix League will be working out nonstop for a month and a half.
This offseason, Manabu Mima retired, and veteran players who had supported the team for many years, such as Takashi Ogino, Hirokazu Sawamura, and Ayumu Ishikawa left the team. This season there were five players born in the Showa era, but at present, only Katsuya Kakunaka. With many players in their 30s, such as Yuki Kuniyoshi, Takahiro Nishimura, and Kota Futaki who will not be under contract for next season, the team has suddenly become younger and is entering a "turning point."
Kojima said, "As a team, we have to accept the reality (of this year's standings), and my own performance was poor, so I have to accept that as well." He also showed his awareness, saying, "I'm older and I'm aware that I have to lead the team. I think I have to show that through my actions and attitude."
Fujiwara, who reached the required number of at-bats for the first time this season, will be 26 years old in May of next year. He is now in a position to lead the team as they continue to get younger. "There are many players younger than me, so I'm not sure if I'm in center field, but I want to do my best with that kind of attitude, and to lead the team, both in terms of my back and my performance," he replied reassuringly.
Although they finished last this season, their young and mid-career pitcher and fielder have gained experience. They hope to train their minds and bodies through intense autumn practice and welcome a joyous autumn next season.
Interview and text by Yuta Iwashita
