"Towards the end, I asked the manager and coaches to let me pitch in 50 games, and I was able to pitch in 50 games, so I hope that next season I can naturally create a team situation where I can pitch in 50 games, and put up my own numbers."

This season, in his sixth year as a professional, Lotte's Rikuto Rikuto Yokoyama achieved for the first time his goal of pitching in 50 games in a season, something he has set for himself every year in recent years.

Last season, he pitched in 43 games, boasting outstanding stability with 3 wins, 1 loss, 18 hold, 3 ERA of 1.71. After the season ended, he was selected to represent Japan in the WBSC Premier 12, and it was a year of full activity, but he said, "I rested where I could, and because of that, my output in February was probably lower than usual, so I think it will naturally improve, but I think it's good to keep those things in mind and take fatigue into consideration as I go." He practiced with a good balance.

At the spring training camp in Ishigaki Island he said, "I still have a lot to improve on, such as my output, but I think it would be good if I could work hard to make the necessary adjustments," and when asked about his output as the exhibition games began, he said, "I've made a lot of improvements, and I think I'm able to produce a good output in the games."

In the open game of Game Softbank Hawks on March 9, the 141 kg fork that finished the Yoshiyasu Sasakawa with a swing struck out from 2 strike without a 5-5 ninth inning with one out runner was a good ball that fell from the strike zone to the ball zone.

"There are still some areas where my strengths and weaknesses are unclear, but in the game against Softbank I was able to pitch well to the right-handed batters, and I was also able to complete the throws to Sasagawa, so I think if I can continue doing that, I'll start to develop a feel for it more and more."

During the exhibition games, he said, "Tateyama-san told us in meetings that it would be good to be able to do a lot of different things, so I'm actively incorporating that into the games," throwing quickly when there were no runner on base and changing the timing of his pitches.

"I will make sure to make the necessary adjustments so that I can get off to a good start from the start of the season, but I also feel that there are still areas where I need more power and physical strength, so I will work on those areas a bit more, and hopefully I can start the season in top condition and complete the whole year."

In his first appearance of the season on March 29th against Softbank, with the score tied at 4-4 and two runner and no runners on base in the eighth inning, he faced Hotaka Yamakawa and struck him out swinging with a nice struck out slider after two balls and two strike.

Regarding slider, he said, "I think slider is a pitch that I have been throwing consistently since last year.I think I'm able to throw it with confidence at the moment, so I think it's good."

He also had a good impression of fork, saying, "It didn't feel bad when I was throwing it, and even though Kondo hit it to center fielder on my first fork, I didn't think it was a bad fork at all. It was hit in a way that made me think, "you'd expect from Kondo." He added, "I'd like to use it in more and more games so that I can improve it and get batters to be aware of it."

Regarding fastball, which is the core of pitch, he said, "In terms of the quality of the ball, I'm able to throw it well in my own way, but I still wasn't able to improve on my control in the game against Seibu, so I'd like to take another look at that and focus on what I need to be conscious of."

He took to mound in the eighth inning with the score at 7-1 and closer a runs inning against Seibu Lions on April 8th, where 12 of his 14 pitches were fastball, a powerful pitch. Was the fact that he mainly threw fastball related to the large score difference?

"The score was quite large, and we were winning by a certain amount, so I pushed for fastball. I really wanted to go for strike lead, but I ended up throwing more balls, so I think I have to reflect on that."

Yokoyama had been swinging his arm in a variety of situations immediately after the season opener, including ties, wins, and behind-the-scenes games, but on April 29 against Orix Buffaloes, he took the mound in the 9th inning of a 2-2 game and took Yusuke Mugitani a timely hit walk-off loss, and was struck off the roster the following day on April 30.

After being demoted to the farm, he pitched in two games and made his first start on May 22 against Orix Buffaloes fastball In his main pitch hitting pitch, he said, "I think I was able to do the pitching that I can do now. closer I'm glad that I was able to get a 0-0 start." He got his first win start with two hits hit and no walks runs in five innings.

The next day, he was removed from the first team roster again and gained experience as a starting pitcher in the farm team. On May 29th, he pitched 6 innings and 93 pitches against The Giants' second team, giving up 3 runs, and on June 5th, he started Oisix (3 innings, 55 pitches, 4 runs) and on June 10th, he started against the DeNA second team (2 innings, 36 pitches, 0 runs).

"When I was in the minor league, Oya-san told me that I was the first or second slowest pitcher on the team, so I knew I had to improve that, and I made a conscious effort to throw earlier," he said, and after becoming a starter, he also increased pitch tempo.

He was promoted back to the first team on June 13th and was once again reassigned to relief. On the same day, in the game Yakult, he said, "I wasn't particularly thinking about it, I was just pitching as a starter, so I was pitching with the same feeling as when I was pitching as a starter." He pitched in the sixth inning with the score tied at 4-4 and closer a solid three innings of no runs.

Regarding how he is thriving as a relief pitcher after his time as a starter, Yokoyama said, "As a relief pitcher, you only pitch one inning, so I often get ahead and try to throw a strong ball, which ends up putting too much strain on me. There were times when I was able to throw my balls well within the range of my control, so I think in that sense it was good that I was able to play (as a starter)."

Even after returning to relief, he overpowered batters with fastball exceeding 150 km/h with a relaxed form.

"If I try too hard, my control becomes inconsistent, so I'm trying to control that and throw as fast as I can. I think it would be good if I could throw with more control and without force, so that I could throw at a good speed."

When you're throwing with a form that lacks power, does he ever feel scared of getting hit?

"Of course there are a lot of times. I do feel like the ball might not go far because it's not powerful, but in those situations I make sure to throw it in a way that won't result in a long hit, and at the right height."

Also, for a while after his promotion, he often pitched multiple inning, not just one inning, such as in the game against DeNA on June 22nd, the game Orix Buffaloes on July 5th, and the game against Nippon-Ham on July 27th.

I know that I'm going to go another 1 inning in the game, so I prepare myself in advance, and I don't change my pitch pitching, especially if I'm going to straddle the lineup. inning I'm not aware of that at all, I don't think about it at all.

While the relief team's kitchen situation was difficult, he accumulated hold numbers while sometimes straddling inning, and scored his 19th hold of the season, the most of the season, in the Orix Buffaloes game on August 27th. After the Softbank Hawks game on August 30th, he was entrusted with the ninth inning of the winning game, saying runs, "Of course, I can throw more than nine innings, and as I said at the beginning of this year, if I can pitch that can overwhelm hitter, I think I can be entrusted with that position."

On August 31st, he recorded his season-high four saves in a game against Softbank Hawks, and although he was lose pitcher in a game against Nippon-Ham on September 20th, he made his season-high 44 appearances, and in the final game of the season against Softbank Hawks on October 5th, he achieved his goal of appearing in 50 games.

This season he achieved career-highs in various categories, including number of appearances (50), hold (20), saves (12), and strike out (47), but which number made him most happy?

"Hmm, I'd say 50 games. It's always been my goal, and I think pitching in first-division games is a way of contributing to the team, so in that sense I think this is the best number for me."

This season, Yokoyama firmly sealed the "right-handed hitter" that had been an issue for him. After 23 years when he was established in the first team, right-handed hitter his Avg was over .324 (74-24) in 23 years and .229 (70-16) in 24 years, but this season right-handed hitter his Avg.175 (103-18), strike out 32 and closer plunged. right-handed hitter The main reason for the high number of struck out and the factor that is beating out the sinker is that they are now able to throw off the .

"Every year, I try out different grips and sensations, and this time I've found the one that works, so I'll continue doing it. The sensation changes every day, so even if it feels different every day, I'd like to keep on refining it so that I can throw with the same change and sharpness."

After the season ended, he said, "This was the first time I'd pitched in 50 games, so I'm not sure about fatigue yet.Anyway, it was just my physical condition, and I'd been pitching about 80% of the time this season, so I've gotten better, but I think there will be times in competitive situations where I have to be able to throw balls that I can control 100%.I'd like to continue to improve my control when throwing with all my might."He also participated in fall practice and fall camp.

In recognition of his performance over the past few years, number will also be changed from 60 to 15. "I think it's a heavy number because it's the number Mima was wearing, but I want to do an active performance that matches that number next season," he said.

"Rather than numbers, I want to win the title, so I'd like to aim for the saves title," he declared, declaring his intention to win the guardian angel title next season. As the team continues to get younger, next year will be his seventh year as a player, and he will be 25 years old, moving from a young player to a middle-aged player.

"Of course I want to take the lead, but since I'm the youngest, there may be times when I cause some trouble or put a burden on my seniors, but I think it's good to have a strong sense of self, talk to my juniors about various things within the scope of what I can teach them, and act with awareness as a senior."

Next season, I hope he will pitch in the first team throughout the season, pitch in 50 games for the second consecutive year, and achieve his goal of winning the saves title.

Interview and text by Yuta Iwashita