Lotte's Yuto Kimura will make his second start since turning pro in the game against Rakuten at 6pm.

Kimura, a second-year high school graduate, made the opening day first team and in his first professional appearance on March 30 against Softbank, he pitched one runs inning closer earn his first professional win, his first professional hold against Rakuten on April 18, and his first professional save against Rakuten on May 15, recording his personal best of 154 km/h. He pitched 19 2/3 innings in 14 games as a relief pitcher, finishing with one win, five hold, and one ERA, with an ERA of 2.75, before making his first professional start against Hanshin Tigers on June 17.

Before taking the mound as a starter, he had a thorough meeting with Teraji Takanari, who is also in his second year after graduating from high school, saying, "Before leaving for the Ryusei Terachi on the day of the game, I had a meeting with Teraji for about 30 minutes, and I got a grasp on the characteristics of the opposing batter and went into the game."

In his first professional start after gaining experience as a relief pitcher, he said, "Once the game started, I'd be facing the opposing batters, so I felt like I wanted to pitch long inning the other way around. I took to mound for my first start at Koshien hoping to pitch as many inning as possible." closer the Hanshin Tigers batting line to three hit and one runs in four innings.

Last season, he started in seven regular season, but I wonder if the fatigue he feels after starting as a pitcher is different in the first and second teams.

"The level has changed a bit, and it was also the first time I faced them, so I had a lot to think about, the data, and it was difficult. As I continued to pitch, I gradually began to see the characteristics of the opposing batter, and I think that's an area in which I've grown since last year."

Also, is there an advantage to being a starter, unlike a relief pitcher, in that you can throw a variety of pitches?

If it's reliever, straight is the ball I'm most confident with, but if I get hit with a curve, reliever it comes down to mentality, or I'd rather get hit with my most confident straight, so rather than dodging with breaking ball, I'd rather throw a curve reliever and get hit with it, I'd regret it. The starter throws a long inning, so the starter can throw a curve to throw off the timing, push with a straight, or have a crisp pitch. I would like to try different things even in really short inning".

He will move up to mound for his second start tonight. "I didn't have a good image in my mind with 1 runs in the last four innings, but I was throwing a lot of balls in a row, so I think if I can get rid of those balls, I can pitch myself, so I'm going to reduce the number of pitches, focus on where I need to pitch, and throw inning as long as possible." I'd like to throw 1 inning long and get my first win as a starter.

Interview and text by Yuta Iwashita