Masami Ishigaki, who joined Lotte through the active player draft, played in 20 games this season, his first year since the transfer, with a batting average of .143, 0 Home Run, and 0 RBI.

At his joining press conference held on December 11th of last year, Ishigaki declared, "I want to aim to be in the starting starting line-up for the opening game." During his voluntary training, he said, "I've been working on how the ball goes in, how I catch it, things like that." He has been honing his batting skills.

Spring training started with the Ishigakijima team. "I think it's good that I've been able to come here without any injuries, but I still have issues with defense, batting, and other aspects, so I'm gradually getting used to the atmosphere, but I think there are still some areas where I'm not completely used to it, so I'm trying to get used to that and overcome my issues one by one."

Regarding batting, he said, "I'm trying to improve my technique, such as catching the ball, and I've been tensing up since we started camp, so I'm trying to bring out what I've been doing in my personal training.Sometimes it doesn't go well, but I'll keep talking and thinking with my coaches and keep working on it."

During the spring training camp in Ishigaki Island, he often silently practiced batting in the indoor training facility after the team practice, saying, "When it comes to batting, my body feels different every day, so I try to get it back as much as possible.I check the same things at the end of practice every day so that I have a place to return to if something goes wrong."

"First of all, I need to do what I can without feeling intimidated, and the important thing is to get results, so I hope to keep striving for those results."

pitcher bases loaded breaking ball In a practice game against the Rakuten Eagles Monkeys on February 16, he started defense of short stop and entered the game with no outs bases loaded in the 6th inning of a 0-3 game, his first at bat in an outing since his transfer to the team. Lai Ying Hao, left, hit a two-run double to left field on the third pitch he threw from 1 strike ball.

"All I need to do is get results in each at-bat, so today I struck out in my next two at-bats, which is an issue, so I'll work hard in various ways to hit more," he said, vowing to make an impression ahead of the Okinawa expedition.

In external games against NPB teams, he came in as defense short stop in a practice game against Hiroshima on February 19th, hitting infield hit, and then started in a practice game against DeNA on the following day, February 20th, with two hit and one starting line-up. He also had a RBI in a practice game against Hanwha of Korea on February 23rd, hit four consecutive games hit, starting with the game against Rakuten Eagles Monkeys. He also had two hit in a practice game against Lotte of Korea on March 1st, making his presence felt with his batting.

Although he hit a single to center fielder field in an exhibition game against Softbank Hawks on March 8th, he hit out in his other three struck out, and after that game he did not appear in the first team again, and he started the season as a farm player.

"I think I was able to look at it again, think about what was wrong, or try things out a little differently, and then incorporate it."

In the farm, on March 26, Rakuten Eagles in a 2-gun game, 1-1 in the 4th inning with two outs bases loaded, the second batter said, "There was a theme of hitting at chances, so I think that was good," and Tsuruzaki threw a fifth pitch from 3 balls 1 strike, an in-course fastball pitch to the left pole grand slam.

He was promoted to the first team on April 2nd and started in starting line-up against Orix Buffaloes that day as the seventh batter and third baseman. In his second at-bat in the fourth inning with the score tied at 1-1 and two outs and no runner on base, Ryuhei Sotani threw doble 138 km/h fork on the second pitch after a one-ball, sending it down the left field line for a double, his first hit since the transfer. He also got hit in his fourth at-bat, saying, "I think the impression you make when you come up is very important, so in that sense I thought this was good. I feel like I'm good against left-handed pitcher, and I'm glad I was able to produce results there." He got off to a good start with two hit in his debut game.

"I think the important thing now is how well I can hit when I have the chance, so I want to make sure I get good results in that area," he said enthusiastically, but was removed from the first-team roster on April 5th due to an injury.

After that, he was promoted to the first team twice, but was unable to hit hit. In the June 11th game against Hiroshima, with the score tied at 2-2 and no runner on base, he was forced into a corner by two pitches against Daisuke Moriura, but he fouled off the ball and, with three balls and two strike, let go of the Walk pitch, a 147 km/h fastball, and walked.

On defense, he prepared by playing multiple positions, including third base, short stop, and first first baseman, during pre-game practice. He played in 20 games for the first team, covering all infield positions and committing zero errors. Being able to play multiple positions is an advantage.

When asked what he needs to do to play as a regular next season, Ishigaki said, "I've often had to start with defense, so I think I'll really shine when I can hit safe balls in all positions and catch difficult balls at the ball's edge.I don't have a specific position that I want to play in, but I think defense ability to be a starting line-up in all positions, as well as batting and small skills will be important, so it would be different if I could hit 30 or 40 home runs, but I think it would be good if I could practice small skills and improve my batting average and long hits."

Next season will be my second year since the transfer, and I hope to contribute with both my bat and defense and secure a place in the first team.

Interview and text by Yuta Iwashita