On the 3rd, Orix Buffaloes infielder Kazuya Katsuki attended contract renewal negotiations at the players' dormitory in Konohana Ward, Osaka City, and signed for 4.8 million yen, a 200,000 yen reduction from his current salary of 5 million yen (estimated amount). "My first goal was to become a regular player, and not being able to achieve that is what I regret the most. I felt good about the numbers and results, but I realized that I needed to make more of an impact to become a regular player," he reflected.
He joined Lotte as the fifth pick in the 2014 draft, and was traded to The Giants in the middle of the 2020 season in exchange for Takuya Sawamura. In 2021, he played in a career-high 39 games and hit three Home Run, but was released in 2023. The following year, he joined Orix Buffaloes on a development contract, and in his second year this season, he had a batting average of .280, one Home Run, and 11 RBI in 34 games in the Western League. "My strength is batting, so I want to continue to improve that," he emphasized.
This offseason, with advice from Mori, a senior at Osaka Toin High School who is a year ahead of him, he is trying to lose 5kg from his 91kg weight. "Right now I'm really working hard on my diet. If I don't eat, I'll just bounce, so I'm eating. In the morning, I don't eat anything, I walk about 5km and sweat, I don't eat rice for dinner, I eat about two rice balls each for breakfast and lunch, and at night I do a hot pot diet. I just eat hot pot (laughs)." Following on from last year, in January he plans to train with Mori in Miyakojima, Okinawa. "We've always been close, so I've learned a lot from him and heard a lot of different things. I'd like to try improving my swing speed through training and do other things in my new training," he said.
Next season will be his 12th year as left-handed hitter. He will turn 30 in April, but he said enthusiastically, "I want to become a regular player as soon as possible. I'm still young in body and mind, so age doesn't matter."
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・ [Orix Buffaloes] Development player Sota Kawano signs for 2.6 million yen, an increase of 100,000 yen... "I want to play fast and be under the control" in his third year next season
・ [Orix Buffaloes] Hiroya Miyagi aims to achieve a new career high through "natural weight loss" - "It's a challenge for me" - Eating only until you're 80% full reduces the burden
・ [Orix Buffaloes] Ryo Ishikawa announces his marriage and says, "I'll work even harder." Contract renewal: 1 million yen less, 15 million yen
・ [Hanshin Tigers] Ukyo Maekawa signs for 1 million yen less. "The ups and downs of his performance were intense." He is the most hit hitter in the Central League for the second year in a row.
