"We're trying to make it to post season and the Japan Series, so looking back on this season, it's not a good thing. In the end, it's disappointing."
Lotte's Neftalí Soto summed up his second season since the transfer in an interview after pre-game practice on October 4th.
In his first season after the transfer, Soto had 88 RBI, second in the league, and hit 20 Home Run (21 hits), his first in three years. His batting average in scoring position was .321, and he showed great hitting ability, making a significant contribution to the team's second consecutive year in Class A.
Looking ahead to the new season, he said, "I think I've gotten along well with everyone and am having fun baseball. As the season begins, I'll do my best to give 100% from the very start." He continued, "I want to do my job to help the team win, and if everyone can do their job, it will lead to the team's win, so I hope I can do what I have to do and lead to win."
In the second game of the season opener on March 29 against Softbank, he said, "I was in a corner, so I thought they would try to play in the zone. I was able to hit back a pitch that came in the zone and make it home run." He hit his first pitch of the season, and on the following day, March 30, he said, "It was a really good pitch. I was able to hit a good pitch with the awareness that I was aiming for the zone and if it got out of the zone, it would be walk." On the 30th, he hit his second solo shot in two consecutive games.
He got off to a great start, recording two hit and one RBI in the opening game at his home stadium, Zozo Marine Stadium, against Orix Buffaloes on April 2nd, and two hit the following day against the Orix hit. He only went hit in consecutive games once in April, but his batting average for the month was .203. Home Run runs and seven RBI. With the start of interleague play in June, he began to play more games on the bench. When he started on the bench, he said, "Nothing special, but I'm just watching the game and preparing for what I need to do if I'm called upon," keeping an eye on the game situation, ready to be called upon at any time. In June, he finished with the fewest at-bats of the season, 34, a batting average of .212, Home Run, and four RBI.
He hit well this season, having posted a strong July batting average of .308, Home Run, and 23 RBI in last season. He hit hit against Rakuten on July 1st, and in the game on the 2nd, he hit a two-run RBI, saying, "I went up to bat thinking sacrifice fly would be fine. I'm glad it got through the gap and became a timely hit." His competitive spirit returned with two hit and two RBI against Orix on the 4th, and he earned his first multi-hit game of the season against Orix on the 5th. In the game Orix on the 6th, he hit his first home run since the game against Hiroshima on June 12th, saying, "I was in a tight spot, so I was thinking about making good contact with the ball that came in softly, and that resulted in a good swing."
hit streak of 10 games from the match against DeNA on June 22nd to the match against Seibu on July 11th. When asked why he was doing so well, he said, "It's because my body and condition are really good," and when asked about his ability to win when he has a chance, he analyzed himself, saying, "I'm in good condition, so I have to show my skills when the opportunity arises. That's just how it is."
Furthermore, he reached base in 11 consecutive games from the July 17th game against Softbank to the August 6th game against Softbank. Soto continued to hit .382 with Home Run and 13 RBI in July, his best month this season. When asked why July is his best month, he calmly replied, "It's normal for it to be this hot in Puerto Rico. It's this hot all year round, and the heat is no problem."
On August 14th, he hit double-digit Home Run in a game against Nippon-Ham. Regarding long hits, he said, "If I'm in good form, I can hit long hits, so I'm not really thinking about it." On September 2nd, he hit his 11th two-run home run against Nippon-Ham, and on the 11th, he hit his 12th Rakuten run against Softbank. In his second at-bat in the fourth inning with the score at 0-2 and a runner on second base, against Kosei Shoji, he persevered and, with three balls and two strike, he found a 140 km/h splitter on the 10th pitch and drew Walk.
In his second year since the transfer, he did not reach the required number of at-bats, playing in 102 games with a batting average of .230, Home Run, and 44 RBI. Although he was the team leader in Home Run and RBI, he bit his lip and said, "I may be the team leader in RBI Home Run but we're last, and I haven't been able to contribute anything to the team."
Soto also expressed his regret, saying, "I wasn't able to go to the Climax Series, so I'm not happy about being the leader (in RBI and Home Run). If I had played more games, I might have been able to hit more, but I'm here for the team. That's a shame." This season, his second year since the transfer, has been a frustrating one for both the team and Soto himself.
Interview and text by Yuta Iwashita
