"I've found that my fastball and fork I've been honing during the offseason are somewhat effective. As I pitched in games, I also regretted not being able to throw a quick pitch or consistently good balls throughout the game, so it was a year in which I gained a lot, but I think that pitching a lot in the first team has made my issues 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 to be in the starting rotation, has been working towards 2025 and has been overcoming his challenges and honing his fork, which is his weapon, during the off-season, saying, "The thing I want to improve the most is my combination of fork and forkball. I think both my set and quick pitches have improved. Also, today (interviewed on February 4th) I'm finally starting to get a good feel for fork, so I think I can go into the game with confidence."

After experiencing first-team action last season, he felt that "I needed to find one breaking ball ball that I could throw with confidence at any time," and he expressed confidence, saying, "In that regard, I've finally gotten the control over fork, and it's become a pitch that I can use in any situation. I think that's one thing that's different from last year."

He said that last season, strike out were an issue in early spring, and regarding strike out, he said, "fork has gotten better, and this year I'm thinking of using a higher fastball. I've also improved my slider count pitches and slider that I use to get strikeouts. The range of change-up and the various combinations I can use are definitely better than last year, so I think that will lead to strike out." During the spring training camp in Ishigaki Island, he thought that with the increased variety of pitch, there was hope for an increase strike out.

"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.

"I'm able to compete in the zone, and the accuracy of breaking ball has improved, so I can get outs with one pitch.I also had this happen in the game against Hiroshima, where I was able to finish the batter with one pitch with change-up when count was even or full count, so I think the accuracy of breaking ball is one reason," he said, striking out hitter with strike ahead.

From the practice game against Yakult on February 18th to the game Seibu Lions 's second team on March 22nd, Haruya Tanaka pitched 23 2/3 innings in five games, allowing only one runs and earning himself a spot in the opening starting rotation without a 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 miss struck out from one ball two strike in 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 the pre-game practice against Nippon-Ham on the same day, on ground of Zozo Marine Stadium, he was seen chatting with his battery partner, Takanari Teraji, saying, "We're looking at the batters' data, and although it's not a decision we won't regret, we are thinking about making it.We're talking about making the best Ryusei Terachi, including our own standings."

In the following game against Nippon-Ham on April 27th, he earned his second win, giving up two runs in five innings, but he ended up as lose pitcher in both the games against Rakuten Eagles on May 5th and Nippon-Ham on May 16th.

Regarding the game Orix Buffaloes on May 27th, he said, "It was good that I was able to see the batter's reaction as well as the plan," and in the early innings he threw powerful pitch, mainly fastball, but gradually increased the number breaking ball from the second inning onwards, and in the sixth inning, 11 of his 15 pitches were breaking ball, and with his intelligent pitch, he allowed only two hit and no runs in seven innings, earning his third win.

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 interleague games or not, I just want to do my job and give 100% in the games I pitch." He started in two games during the interleague games, and in the game Chunichi on June 7th, he threw 97 pitches over 7 innings, allowing 4 hit, 9 strike out, and 1 runs. Even when he hit, he said, "I think it was a fork. I'm glad I was able to hit it." In his second at-bat in the 5th inning with the score at 0-1 and the bases loaded loaded, he hit a 146 km/h fork, the first pitch thrown by Hiroto Takahashi, to left field for a 2-run RBI. He was dynamic both in pitching and batting.

After the interleague games, he took the mound for the first time on June 29th against Softbank Hawks, but he was lose pitcher, strike out 11 batters, the most since turning pro.

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 fact that it's a battle of height, so I just make sure I don't get the height wrong when I throw, and when I get it to the right height, it naturally drops well.I start by thinking about throwing strike and then a ball," he said, as he produced a mountain of strikeouts with fork that drops significantly from strike zone to the ball zone.

In the first half of the season, he often pitched with gaps between appearances, but on July 18th against Orix Buffaloes, he started in regular season with a six-day break for the first time, throwing 112 pitches over six innings, hit six hits, strike out, and allowing three runs. Regarding his first first-division start with a six-day break, he said, "I've been preparing for this for a long time, so I think it went as I expected. I've only done it once, so I'll work hard to be a consistent pitcher 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'll do my best to do that, and either finish the game while we're winning, or hand it over to the relief pitcher while we're winning.I'll just aim for that and do my best to do what I have to do."

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.

In the end, he did not pitch in the first team after that, and he only started one game in the farm team, against Seibu Lions second team on September 24th and against Oisix in the Miyazaki Phoenix League, and ended his season thereafter.

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 fall practice held at Zozo Marine Stadium, he said he would continue to hone his quick pitch, saying, "In fall practice, I'm going to focus on my quick pitch, so I want to place the most importance on the time, power, and control of my quick pitch. During the off-season, I took another look at my fastball, and I'm still not completely satisfied with it, so next year I want to increase my average pitch speed, and in addition to improving that, I also want to increase the speed of fork and my strikeout rate, so I think those are also areas I need to 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 plan to remain 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 onwards.

Interview and text by Yuta Iwashita