Rakuten Eagles pitcher Kosei Shoji Shoji (25) has revealed that he will be training with pitcher Seiya Ouchi (19), a second-year high school graduate, for his voluntary training in January next year. Shoji is 189 cm tall, while Ouchi is 191 cm tall, both right-handed pitchers. "We're not doing this because we're good friends. We're doing it to improve our baseball skills," he said. "I want to spend more time thinking about baseball. If I can get used to that, I'll be able to do what I need to do even when the season starts," he said, intending to share various things based on his own experience. When asked if they are a "Shoji team," he replied, "It's not really a team, since there are only two of us."
For Ouchi, spending a lot of time with a senior who is similar in both physique and pitch style will be beneficial. He said he received advice from him during the season, saying, "I heard that Shoji was also thin in the past. I think we'll be able to have deeper conversations than usual, and I'd like to learn from him in many ways, including his diet," showing his eagerness to absorb anything he can.
Shoji's first appearance this season was in May due to the effects of right elbow surgery he underwent in September of last year, but he was included in the starting rotation towards the end of the season. He pitched in 13 games, posting a record of 4 wins and 4 losses with ERA of 3.07. Ouchi pitched in two games, including his professional debut and first start against The Giants on June 7th, posting a record of 0 wins and 0 losses ERA 2.00. Both players aim to be included in the opening rotation next season, and will work together to improve each other through their individual training.
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