Nippon-Ham pitcher Fukuya Yamazaki renewed his contract at ESCON on the 28th. He is currently on a multi-year contract and signed for the same amount of 250 million yen (estimated amount).
This season he has 7 wins and 5 losses, ERA 2.27. He was demoted to the second team towards the end of the season, and after that he pitched as reliever. While training with the second team, he was inspired by the sight of young players training hard from early in the morning. "I realized that I still have a lot to learn. I changed my mindset and realized that I need to practice more, and it was good that I was able to do it with a feeling of going back to basics," he reflected.
Regarding his time pitching as reliever pitcher, he said, "My pitching speed has improved since I started pitching as reliever pitcher. I'll be pitching as a starter next season, so my challenge is how much I can increase my pitching speed, and I'll do my best to increase it even more." He plans to improve his strength and flexibility in a balanced manner before next season.
Known as "Sachitora" since their time Orix, his battery partner Fushimi has now transferred to Hanshin Tigers. In the 2011 season, he faced Fushimi, who had previously transferred to Nippon-Ham, and was hit with 6 hit in 11 at-At Bat and 1 Home Run. "I think the only time we'll face each other is in the interleague games, but I don't want to face them. I've been hit by about 50% of their hits. They're the opponent I have the worst compatibility with, so I have a bad impression of them. I don't want to play against them, and I know everything about them. That's what I don't like," he said with a wry smile.
However, he showed enthusiasm when facing Yamazaki as hitter. He has no experience with the pattern of Fushimi as catcher and Yamazaki as hitter. "I've never played that before, so I'm looking forward to it. I think I could hit it (laughs). Hanshin Tigers is Koshien, right? There's a possibility, so if there's a chance I can hit it there, I'll prepare well and keep imagining it."
He has hit in the interleague games for five consecutive years since 2021, tying him with Sugiuchi (Softbank) for the longest streak among Pacific League pitcher. If hit in next season's interleague games, it will be his sixth consecutive year hit, a new record for Pacific League pitcher.
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