On the 14th, Orix held negotiations with third-round draft pitcher Ryugetsu Sato of Kendai Takasaki High School at a hotel in Takasaki, Gunma, and signed a provisional contract for a signing bonus of 50 million yen and an annual salary of 5 million yen (estimated amounts). The left-handed pitcher, who has a top speed of 147 km/h, named Orix 's Hiroya Miyagi as his role model, and enthusiastically stated, "I want to be pitcher can help the team win. I want to win 10 games (a year) by my second year."
The left-handed pitcher underwent Tommy John surgery at the end of August last year, and made an unusual comeback in less than a year, in the third round of the Gunma Tournament in July this year. During his rehabilitation, he worked hard to strengthen his muscles, and his average pitching speed rose from 140 km/h before the surgery to 144 km/h. With the help of a mental coach, he has also grown mentally. "I was able to bounce back from the period when I hit rock bottom. I have acquired the mentality to overcome any adversity." The period when he was unable to pitch has made Sato even stronger.
He admires Miyagi. "He can pitch that will help his team win, and he's not much different in height from me, so I look up to him." After the draft meeting, he watched a video of Miyagi practicing. "I'd like to hear about pitch, including breaking ball and fastball, and also about his lifestyle, if possible," he said with a sparkle in his eyes.
Orix pitcher The competition is very competitive," said the lefty. Even there, I want to do my best even though I am a high school student," said the left arm with renewed determination. He is determined to make the most of his three years of hard work in high school to excel in a new stage of his career.
◆Ryūga Sato was born on July 13th, 2007 in Kawasaki City. He is 18 years old. He started baseball softball in the Imai Nishimachi Youth baseball Club in his first year at Ooto Elementary School, and joined the Giants Junior in 2019. He played for Tokyo Jonan Boys while at Nishinakahara Junior High School, and was selected for the U15 Samurai Japan team. He has been on the bench at Kendai Takasaki since his first year in the spring. He is 173cm tall and weighs 77kg. He throws and bats left-handed.
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