Orix Buffaloes Hiroya Miyagi pitcher (24) will continue to write an exclusive column "Seisei Hyakuren" in Sports Hochi in 2026. In the special New Year edition, which will be published as needed, he expressed his determination to win the league championship for the first time in three years, saying, "There is nothing but potential. He expressed his feelings for his teammates, including Benrin, who is in the same grade as him. The ace left fielder is also expected to play an active role in the WBC in March as the team aims to become the world's No. 1 team in consecutive years. From Okinawa, where he has returned home, he wrote about his enthusiasm for the season.

Happy New Year to all readers of Sports Hochi. Following on from 2012 and 2013, I have been given the opportunity to write a column again. This is a valuable opportunity for me to express myself in my own words, so I hope you will continue to support me in 2014.

I'm in Okinawa right now. The "New Year's Eve Jump" has become a tradition, as it marks the transition into the new year. I want to pitch a lot, I want to win a lot. That's how I start each year, and even in Okinawa, I'm constantly thinking about baseball. But, since I'm back home, after practice I enjoy some delicious food.

I've been writing about this for 25 years, but my favorite places are the ramen shop Tondou and the fast food chain Ender (A&W). I enjoy it, thinking, "This is the time!" I have fun eating with friends from middle and high school, and I really want to swim in the ocean. But it's too cold, so I can't do that... (laughs).

Since about 2002, I've been bothered by that fastball that seemed to go straight through the batter's field. It was a pitch I threw in situations where the lead was already high, or where I knew the batter would definitely not swing at the first pitch. I should have been able to throw 148 km/h in those situations, but the frustration of being hit with a 142 km/h pitch has remained with me ever since.

Looking at a game as a whole, it might be important to vary the intensity of pitch. However, when I thought about my future in baseball, I felt like I would regret it. I felt that relying on variations in intensity now would lead to serious problems. So, for the next 25 years, my goal has been to "pitch with all my might."

As pitcher, I've always wanted to give my all when competing against hitter. Perhaps I had started to forget that mindset as I achieved a certain level of success. It was good to have more opportunities to throw with full force and to actually get more struck out (note). strike out are a measure of pitcher 's ability, and I've discovered a new side of myself. I'm striving to reduce runs while consistently getting struck out.

If we look at wins alone, I've won seven games for two years in a row. I don't think my strength has declined. When I was winning double digits, I was relying too much on momentum. Recently, in addition to momentum, I've started to "think" more. My performance has declined, but I see many positive aspects in myself.

In 2025, we finished in third place. I bear a lot of responsibility for that. Why did we get caught up to when we were leading? It's because of a lack of skill and technique. I also lacked the awareness to be calmer and think more carefully before pitch. I'm going to work on that this offseason. I have high hopes for myself in 2026.

It's not that I want to win, but I believe we can win. There's nothing but the possibility. Kuri-san energized the starting pitchers and gave them a sense of drive. He told them not to leave mound so easily. I want to be like that too. Personally, I have high hopes for Peta (Yamashita). I want him to stay healthy and stay in the rotation, and he's one of the juniors I want to inspire.

Kurebayashi, who is in the same year as me, is also fired up. The competition for the most win and home run is planned to continue in 2026. In 2025, he won with nine home runs... We tease each other, saying things like "Hit more! Win more!", and we will work hard together to be recognized as pillars of the team.

While aiming for a team championship, I'm also thinking about the WBC in March. What I took away from the last tournament was my own shortcomings. Preparation before warm-up, before training, before pitch. The top players really prepare. I realized that I was being careless. It's a stage where I can check where I stand now and feel motivated to become a better baseball. I honestly want to participate and be selected again and again.

In December 2013, I met Yoshinobu Yamamoto and was able to talk for the first time in a long time. When I asked him to take me out to dinner, he said, "You don't talk much." It's amazing that someone who has mastered that much hasn't changed at all. However, his hair was in good condition. It was also sharp (laughs).

In terms of Pacific League standings, Softbank Hawks is in first place, but first we have to beat Nippon-Ham who are one level above us. We will fight with the mindset of taking it one step at a time. This is my seventh year in 2026. I have to win some kind of "title," such as ERA or strike out. My back, which I injured in 2025, has completely healed, and I can throw strong pitches. My biggest goal is the beer shower and champagne celebration. I will make this a year filled with laughter, imagining the moment when we can all have fun together. (Daisuke Miyagi)

[Note] In 2025, he pitched 150 1/3 innings, recording 165 strike out the fourth most in the league and the most on his team. strike out rate of 9.88 surpassed that of Nippon-Ham 's Ito (8.92), who had the most strike out (195), and Seibu Lions 's Imai (9.79), and was the best figure across both leagues.

◆Hiroya Miyagi Born August 25, 2001, in Ginowan City, Okinawa. Age 24. Started playing baseball in the youth baseball "Shimashi The Dragons" and played for "Ginowan Ponies" in junior high school. Participated in Koshien in the summer of his first and second years at Konan High School. In his third year, he was selected for the U18 Japan national team and joined Orix Buffaloes as the first overall pick in the 2019 draft. In 2021, he won 13 games and was awarded Pacific League Rookie of the Year. He contributed to Samurai Japan's victory in the 2023 WBC. His career record is 49 wins and 29 losses in 115 games, ERA 2.48. 171 cm, 85 kg. Left-handed pitcher and left-handed batter. Annual salary of 220 million yen.