Lotte's Koshiro Sakamoto is fired up for next season.

In 2011, he pitched in a career-high 51 games, recording one win, 16 hold, and ERA of 3.21, but last season he only pitched in 37 games and this season he only pitched in eight games, and after the season ended he said, "In one word, it was a disappointing season."

This offseason, the team has been actively strengthening its left-handed pitcher with Sam Long, Jose Castillo, and Hayato Miyazaki Hayato, who was released from Softbank Hawks.

"I think I'm in a position where I have to closer left-handed batters, so I want people to call on me as Sakamoto, whether it's just one batter, one inning, or two inning. I want to do my best wherever I'm called on."

Looking ahead to next season, he stated his determination, saying, "I want to achieve my goal of playing in 50 games, which I set every year, and as the number of left-handed pitcher increases along with the foreign players, I want to be the best there is. I want to always play with the mindset of winning."

Interview and text by Yuta Iwashita