"I was able to get a feel for the fact that my straight pitch and fork I've been honing during the offseason are somewhat effective. While pitching in games, I also have some regrets about my quickness and not being able to consistently throw good pitches throughout an entire game, so it was a year with a lot of gains, but I think pitching a lot in the first team has also made my challenges clearer."

This season, Lotte's Haruya Tanaka 's third year since graduating from high school, has been a year that has left him with both gains and challenges.

Haruya Tanaka, who was aiming for a spot in the starting rotation, spent the offseason looking ahead to 2025 saying, "The most important thing I want to do in my combination is to perfect my fastball and fork. I think both my set and quick pitches are getting better. Also, I've finally started to get a good feel for fork today (during the interview on February 4th), so I think I can approach the game with confidence." He has been working to overcome his weaknesses and refine fork, his weapon of choice.

Having experienced playing in the first team last season, he said he felt he needed to "find a breaking ball ball that he could throw with confidence at any time," and he showed confidence, saying, "In that respect, I've finally gotten the control on fork, and it's becoming a pitch I can use in any situation. I think that's one difference from last year."

Last season, I said that strike out was an early spring challenge, but regarding strike out, "fork is also improving, and I am going to use a higher straight one this year. slider count pitches and slider to go to swing the sky are up. The change-up swing and various combinations are definitely higher than last year, so I think the strike out will increase there," he said during the Ishigaki Island spring camp, thinking that the increase in strike out variations would give him expectations for an increase in pitch.

"Anyway, the first thing I do is to throw my own ball anyway, and the rest is a game against hitter when it comes to the game, so I hope I can pitch my own pitching fairly and firmly." In the practice game against Yakult on February 18, which was his first appearance in an external game this season, he closer three innings without runs, but all eight pitches in the first inning were fastball and three outs, and in the practice game against Orix Buffaloes on February 26, he combined four innings to runs with a fastball-based pitch.

fastball I think things are going well. I am getting fouls, so I think it is good. Last season, the accuracy of his quickness after runner and the speed of his fastball tended to drop when he runner gave up, but "I'm doing it without any worries, so I think it's good because I'm able to concentrate on the hitter," he said, adding that in an open game against Hiroshima on March 6, he hit the first pitch to Tatsuya Yamasaki with two outs in the third inning of a 0-0 game. He measured 152 kilometers, fastball in the low 140s, even after runner carrying the weight.

Since the start of the outing, his style has been to strike out with fastball. "Since the straight line has to be the axis pitcher throughout the season, it is early in the season when I throw breaking ball, and if the straight line doesn't work, it won't work for the season. I threw a lot of straight pitches, and I intentionally threw more of the most important ones there first." In the February practice games, fastball-centered pitch was noticeable, perhaps because the games were short inning.

breaking ball He was able to hit strike first and then hitter. "I think one of the reasons is that I am able to play in the zone, and the accuracy of breaking ball is getting better, so I can get outs with one pitch, or, as I did against Hiroshima, I can end the game with one pitch on change-up in the parallel count and full count spots," he said.

Haruya Tanaka pitched 23 2/3 innings over 5 games, from a practice game against Yakult on February 18th to a game against Seibu Lions 's minor league team on March 22nd, allowing only one runs and securing a spot in the opening day starting rotation without any doubt.

◆ Included in the opening rotation

In his first start of the season, against Rakuten Eagles on April 4, he went 2 runs to lose pitcher in the 5th inning, but he screwed it up with a powerful fastball, saying, "I think it's the same as usual. Especially great were the 152-kilometer outside fastball pitch on the fifth struck out pitch that he made Ryosuke Tatsumi miss from two balls two strike with two outs in the 0-0 third inning, the 150-kilometer outside fastball pitch that he made Yuya Ogo from one ball two strike to miss struck out at the top of the 0-1 fifth inning, and fastball the outside left-handed hitter corner of the plate. I'm happy because fastball is my number one weapon, so I thought I expressed that well."

136 km slider from the outside that took a missed third pitch pitched from 1 ball 1 strike to Yuya Ogo with one out in the first inning of 0-0, 136 km slider that took a missed third pitch pitched from 1 ball 1 strike to Hiroto Kobukata in the top of the third inning of 0-0, and slider that was pitched to left-handed hitter with count pitch "It was not as planned, but I said I would take count there. It was a good pitch.

With no outs in the fourth inning of a 0-0 game and the bases load strike ed, he said, "I'm glad I was able to keep that in control because slider struck out slider should have thrown it because the data should have been there."

Looking back on his pitch in the game against Rakuten, he said, "It wasn't bad, but it was a shame. I was able to make some good choices because I was throwing good balls, and there was one ball I couldn't make the decision at a crucial moment, so although the balls I was throwing weren't bad, the results weren't coming with the balls I was throwing, so I think that's still an area I have to work on."

Regarding the wasteful parts, he said, "It was a waste of that one pitch that was decisive. Muneyama and Abe were also pitching carefully, but overall the balls I was throwing were in my favor in many situations, so I ended up getting caught out and being targeted, so I want to closer that."

In the Nippon-Ham game on April 16, which was his second start of the season, he threw 7 innings and 95 pitches, allowing hit 2 hits, 8 strike out, 3 walks, Hit by Pitch walks, and no runs, earning his first win of the season. "I didn't have a straight line, so I thought I'd push it," he said, and in the fifth inning of 0-0 with two outs bases loaded, he swung at a fastball of 153 km from one ball against Kota Yazawa, and when he fouled on a fastball of 155 km, he made a foul on one ball and two strike, and finally finished with a struck out swing at 156 km, which was his fastest fastball.

Before practice for the game against Nippon-Ham on the same day, he was seen talking with his battery partner, Takashi Terachi, on ground at Zozo Marine Stadium, saying, "We've looked at the batter's data, and while it's not a choice we'll regret, we're determined to make one. We've been talking about how we can make the best choice, taking our Ryusei Terachi standings into account."

He got his second win in the next round on April 27 against Nippon-Ham, in the 5th inning 2 runs, but both the May 5 Rakuten Eagles and May 16 Nippon-Ham rounds went lose pitcher.

In the game Orix Buffaloes on May 27, he said, "I think it was good that I was able to execute my plan and also observe the batters' reactions." He started with powerful pitch, mainly using fastball, and gradually increased breaking ball from the second time through the batting order. In the sixth inning, 11 out of 15 pitches were breaking ball, demonstrating intelligent pitch, and earned his third win with 7 innings pitched, 2 hit and no runs.

Among them change-up he threw to Yutaro Sugimoto with one ball and two outs in the second inning with the runner at 0-0, which led to a 134 km/h foul runner on his second pitch; a 132 km/h foul ball on his third pitch to Yuma Tongu with one ball and one strike and no runner on base in the fourth inning with the score at 3-0 and two outs; and a 132 km/h foul ball on his third pitch to Taishi Hirooka with one ball and one strike and no runners on base in the sixth inning with the score at 3-0 and one out. "The things I had been doing well in camp weren't very good once the season started, so I think the things I've been working on in camp so far are finally starting to improve," he said, commenting that change-up he threw to count were very good.

Tanaka himself said, "I think I'm able to perform to a certain extent the way I want to." He also emphasized his confidence while pitching, saying, "Everything I've done in camp is taking shape, so I'm entering the season with the belief that those things will work. I think that's finally turning into more confidence."

"Regardless of whether it's an interleague series or not, in the games I pitch, I just want to do my job and give 100% of my ability." He started two games in the interleague series, and in the game Chunichi on June 7, he threw 97 pitches over 7 innings, hit 4 hits, strike out 9, and giving up 1 runs. At the plate, he said, "I think it was a fork. I'm glad I was able to hit it," as he hit a 146 km/h bases loaded thrown by Hiroto Takahashi on the first pitch of his second at-bat in the 5th inning with no outs and the fork loaded, for a 2-run RBI single to left field. He was active both as a pitcher and a hitter.

In his first appearance after the interleague series on June 29 against Softbank Hawks, he was lose pitcher, but he recorded a career-high 11 strike out.

In the 6th inning of 0-2, with one out, 2nd and 3rd base, Ryoya Kurihara swung from 2 balls 2 strike to the 5th pitch at 137 km fork struck out, Hotaka Yamakawa bases loaded with a declared intentional walk, but Kenta Tanigawara swung at 1 ball 2 strike to 137 kg fork struck out. In a pinch, fork to struck out was very good.

While reflecting on his progress, saying "There are still some inconsistencies depending on the game," he also expressed satisfaction, saying, "When I'm in good form, I have a great feeling for fork, and if I can consistently produce that quality every game, I think I'll be in pretty good shape."

I'm conscious of the height of the ball, so I just throw it at the right height so I don't make any mistakes, and then when I go to a good height, it falls naturally and solidly. strike I throw with the ball in mind from the strike zone to the ball zone with a large drop-off fork," he said, building a pile of strikeouts.

In the first half of the season, he often pitched with long intervals between appearances, but in the game Orix Buffaloes on July 18, he made his first start in a first-team regular season with six days of rest, throwing 112 pitches over 6 innings, hit 6 hits, strike out 6, and giving up 3 runs. Regarding his first start in the first team with six days of rest, he said, "I've been preparing for this all along, so I think it went as I expected. I've only done it once, so I'll do my best to be able to do it consistently from now on."

Regarding pitch in the first half of the season, Tanaka reflected, "There was a 10-day break, so I had more time than the other pitcher think I was able to reflect more than others and work on my issues for the next game."He also showed his enthusiasm for pitch with a six-day break, saying, "From now on, I'd like to earn the trust of the coaches and manager, and do my best to make the most of the six-day break in the second half of the season."

Looking ahead to the games after the All-Star break, he stated his determination, saying, "My job is to pitch longer inning, so I will focus on that, and above all, I want to finish the game with a win or hand it over to the relief pitchers with a lead. I will do my best to do what I need to do with that as my only goal."

In Game Nippon-Ham on July 27th, which was his first appearance after the All-Star game, he scored the first goal and then scored an additional run, and as a situation, he couldn't create a good rhythm in both defense and offense, so I think his role as a starter was still insufficient, but after that, he was 0 even though he was in a pinch closer I was able to do it, and I think I was able to do what I could do, so I think that was good," he threw 6 innings and was 3 runs, but from the 4th inning with no outs in the 4th inning of 0-3, he took Torai Fushimi with 2 balls and 2 strike from the 5th pitch with a 134 kg struck out fork, and Shun Mizutani from 1 ball 2 strike to the 5th pitch strike It was wonderful to finish off Igarata with a 3-ball 2-fork struck out strike struck out of 133 kg fork from the 7th pitch with a 3-ball 2 and a 3-way struck out.

On August 3, he started the game against Seibu Lions with six days left in the middle of the season. "Anyway, I got scored on walk, so I really have to reflect on that," he said. Seibu Lions hitless hit until the 5th inning, closer while surrendering 1 runs in 5 BB innings.

Ultimately, he didn't make any further appearances in the first team, and even in the farm league, he finished his season with only one start each game: against Seibu Lions Lions' second team on September 24th and against Oisix in the Miyazaki Phoenix League.

In his third season this year, he pitched in 13 games and 76 1/3 innings, with a record of 3 wins and 5 losses, 77 strike out, and ERA of 2.48.

Looking back on this season, he summed up, "My fastball and finishing pitch were the best this year, and I think Avg has improved in particular, as I've been able to get fouls and beat the opponents, even though they know what I'm doing. Also, when I let runner on base, they run, and my quality has dropped in all aspects of pitch control, so I think that was my weakness."

strike out rate was 9.08. "I had set a personal goal of at least 9, so I think that was good, but there were many batters who took a long time to get underway, or who took a long time struck out after being underway, so in order to pitch longer inning with fewer pitches, I think I need to reduce struck out rate plus the number of pitches per batter, so I think I need to improve my ability to pitch a little longer."

During the autumn practice held at Zozo Marine Stadium, he said he would be working on improving his quick pitching, stating, "For the autumn practice, I want to focus on my quickness as much as possible, so I want to prioritize the time, velocity, and control of my quickness. In the offseason, I will review my fastball again, and it's still not satisfactory, so I want to increase my average fastball speed next year. In addition to increasing that, I also want to increase the speed and strikeout rate of fork, so I think that will be another area I will work on."

"I think my quick pitching improved during the fall camp. Next up is the season, when I'll be facing batters. That will be very important, but I think I've improved at least a little," he said, practicing his quick pitching during the Miyakonojo fall camp, and his quick pitching time also cleared the team's minimum standard.

During the off-season, he expressed his intention to improve his physique and technical abilities, saying, "Building up a physique is an important preparation for competing throughout the year, so I think it would be good to get my body in shape and spend more time practicing my skills so I can improve them a little more."

Regarding next season, he said, "I want to pitch every six days, and I want to maintain a rotation with six days between starts all year, so I'll look into training and recovery." He continued, "It's about fulfilling my role, and I want to pitch in a way that helps the team win, and increase the probability of victory by even 1%, so to do that I think the role of a starter is to allow fewer runs, pitch longer inning, and hand the ball over to reliever, so I want to increase the number of HQS."

Next season, I intend to maintain my place in the starting rotation throughout the season, reach the required innings pitched, achieve double-digit win, and contribute to the team's win from this season onward.

Interview and text by Yuta Iwashita