Lotte's Yusuke Azuma pitched in six games this season, recording one hold and ERA 6.75, making it a disappointing season for the second year in a row.

Regarding his voluntary training for 2025, Higashizuma said, "I felt like my basic physical strength and muscle power had declined in all aspects, so I felt that I had to start with the basics rather than focusing on form. I had been gaining weight in order to increase my pitching speed, but I decided to lose it again, lose weight and gain muscle mass, to see what would happen. I think my sharpness is better than last year." He has been working to improve his physical strength.

He started spring training in February with the Miyakonojo team, but joined the Itoman training camp on February 18th and pitched in six practice and exhibition games. He had closer three consecutive runs games since the exhibition game against Softbank on March 7th, but started the season in the second team.

Early in the season, slider was brilliant in the farm team, drawing many strikeouts.

Against right, slider is a ball I'm absolutely confident with. I'm getting more and more strikeouts with it, so I'm throwing it more and more. Against lefties, I've been able to use slider well against the in-course on several pitches this year, so I think that's the reason for the increase in struck out."

On April 5, in a game against DeNA Nigun, he struck out Hibiki Kato with a 3-ball, 2 strike slider from first base with no outs in the seventh inning of a 3-0 win, struck out and Ryota Kamiko from third base with two outs in the seventh inning of a 3-0 win, and Ryota Kamiko on the third pitch of the slider from 2 strike to struck out in the 3-0 game.

"Compared to last year, I think slider is now on the trajectory I want to throw," he said, analyzing himself, but added, "I think it's just starting now, honestly," seeing the key as whether he can get strikeouts with slider. When asked why he said this, Higashizuma explained, "Usually, after camp ends in April and May, slider feels good to throw, but from this point on, I start to get tired, my body changes, and the way it curves will probably change, so I think the challenge going forward is whether I can maintain that."

"My duties haven't changed, so I won't know what I can do or where I can do it until I'm promoted to the first team, so I've been preparing to be versatile so I can play wherever I'm assigned," he said, preparing himself to be ready for any call to the first team at any time. He pitched 15 games and 16 2/3 innings in the farm team, finishing with a record of 0 wins and 1 runs and an ERA of 0.54. Starting with the May 13th game against Kufu HAYATE, closer seven consecutive shutout games, and finally earned his first promotion of the season on June 19th.

On June 21st, his first appearance of the season, he pitched in the 8th inning against DeNA with the score at 0-5, and walked first batter Yoshitomo Tsutsugo, saying, "I had a bad image of him hitting me last year too, so I tried not to go in for a soft shot, but it went even further outside." He then walked Walk two seam fastball seam two seam fastball, saying, "I was aiming for it outside, but it felt like it went too far, so I think it was just a coincidence."

Koki Kajiwara threw the seventh ball from 2 balls and 2 strike with a 128 kph slider to end the inning with struck out. In an interview on May 29, he said, "I've been able to use my slider well on a few pitches this year, even against lefties, so I think that's the reason why I'm getting more struck out," and he struck out struck out with a left-handed hitter to slider on a first-team mound.

"I was able to show what I'd learned in the farm team in my very first game with the first team, so although I wouldn't say I'm confident, I do feel like it's become a pitch that I can use," he reflected.

On June 24th, against The Giants, he pitched in the sixth inning of a 6-3 game, his first win of the season, and earned hold but gave up one runs so, he said, "I think the situations I'm in charge of are those when we're behind, but what I do won't change. I think the best thing is to closer the score at zero, no matter closer the situation is, so I don't worry about the situation, I play in the zone, and when we're in a pinch, I try to stop the pinch.If I'm pitching when we're behind, I try to pitch in a way that will bring the momentum back to the team, and I do my best."He has now closer the score at runs in three consecutive games since the game Rakuten on July 1st.

Looking at the percentage of pitch he threw, he threw slider and two seam fastball a lot. Since he was pitching in situations where there were runner on base, perhaps he prioritized pitches he was confident in.

"Even now, my shots spin when I shoot straight, so it's easier to calculate if I can move the ball myself.Taking that into account, it might be more accurate to say that I move the ball myself."

On July 9th, he pitched one inning against Nippon-Ham, giving up three runs, and was removed from the first-team roster the following day, July 10th. He finished the season without being promoted to the first-team. Although he showed stable pitch in the farm team from the start of the season, he struggled to get promoted to the first team, and was unable to take advantage of the opportunity that came his way in the final stages of the interleague games. With the rise of young players, he wants to show his determination next season as he turns 30.

Interview and text by Yuta Iwashita