[Nippon-Ham] "I haven't done that kind of thing much," says Daiki Kikuchi, who transferred from The Giants, eager to join the "Kiyomiya Friends"

Sports Hochi

2025.12.13(土) 06:25

Kikuchi poses at the press conference (on the left is acting GM Kida)

Nippon-Ham Fighters pitcher Daiki Kikuchi (26), who was transferred from The Giants in the active draft, attended a press conference at Escon on the 12th to join the team, where he expressed his desire to join the dance unit "Kiyomiya Friends," led by his classmate Yuki Kiyomiya. Yuki Kiyomiya and others dressed in drag will perform songs and dances at a fan appreciation event, and Kiyomiya has already prepared for the event on YouTube. "I haven't done much of that kind of thing, so I'd like to get going in this new place," he said, imagining the challenge in Hokkaido, his first visit.

Naturally, his first priority is to do well in his main job. In 2011 he made 50 appearances on the mound, but this season he has made only seven, and he will start anew wearing number 55, saying, "I want to do well on the first-team stage once again." He is the same age as Tanaka Akira, who was transferred from Nippon-Ham to The Giants in last season's active player draft and has made a big leap this season with 62 appearances on the mound. "He's a real role model. Conversely, I want to do well like that with The Fighters," he said, setting his sights on the "Eight Road." (Kawakami Haruki)