Rakuten Eagles infielder Rui Muneyama (22) vowed to power up in order to win. Despite being a rookie, he played in 122 games and reached the required number of at-bats, becoming the first rookie in 44 years to be named to the Best Nine short stop award in Pacific League. Looking back on his successful first year, he said, "There were games where we lost in small ways, but there were also games where we lost because of power, or because I was outsmarted by the swing, or because of simple differences in ability," revealing the difference between him and the top teams both as a team and as an individual.
In order to close the gap, he is focusing on training during the off-season and putting a strong emphasis on building his physique. He plans to work on improving his power during his voluntary training in Kagoshima Prefecture in January next year, while also practicing with an eye on how to use his body and other movements that are relevant to baseball. If he gains power and increases his number of long hits such as Home Run, this would fit with Muneyama's idea that "I want to be a batter that opponents are afraid of, and strength is related to that." Physical strength also helps prevent injuries, and is an essential part for Muneyama, who has said that he wants to play as short stop for a long time. He will increase his strength in all aspects of his play, including running, hitting, and defense, and will be a key player who will help the team win next season.
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