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 currently in Okinawa. "New Year's Jump" has become a tradition, marking the end of the year. I want to pitch a lot, I want to win a lot. That's how I start the year every year, and even in Okinawa, I'm always thinking about baseball. But I'm back home, and after practice, I'm enjoying 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.
It may be important to look at a game as a whole and vary the strength of pitch. However, when I thought about my future baseball career, I felt like I might regret it. If I relied on strength now, it would be a disaster. So, for the past 25 years, I set my goal as "pitch with all my strength."
As pitcher, I have always had the desire to challenge hitter with all my might. As I achieved a certain level of success, I may have tended to forget this mindset. I was able to pitch with all my might more often, and it was good that I was able to actually struck out (note). strike out are a measure of pitcher 's ability, and I was able to discover a new side of myself. I am striving to reduce runs while also getting a steady struck out of strikeouts.
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 2013, we came in third place. I share a lot of responsibility. Why were we caught up when we were leading? It was a lack of ability and technique. I also lacked the awareness to be more calm and think about pitch. I will work on that this offseason. I have high hopes for myself in 2014.
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.
As well as the team's victory, I'm also thinking about the WBC in March. What I took away from the last tournament was my own inadequacy. Preparation before warming up, before training, before pitch. The top players really do prepare. I realized that I was just doing my best. This is a stage where I can see where I am now and it makes me want to get better at baseball. In truth, I want to play as many times as possible and be selected.
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 team above us. We will fight with the mindset of taking it one step at a time. 2026 will be my seventh year. I have to grab something that could be called a "title," such as ERA or strike out. I have fully recovered from the back injury I sustained in 2013, and I am now able to throw powerful pitches. My biggest goal is to have a beer shower and a champagne fight. I will imagine moments when we can all have fun together, and make this a year filled with lots of laughs. (Miyagi Daiya)
[Note] In 2013, he pitched 150 1/3 innings, recording a team-high 165 strike out fourth in the league. strike out rate of 9.88 was the best across both leagues, surpassing Nippon-Ham 's Ito (8.92) and Seibu Lions 's Imai (9.79), who both had the most strike out (195).
◆Miyagi Hiroya Born on August 25, 2001 in Ginowan, Okinawa. 24 years old. Started playing baseball with the Shimashi The Dragons youth baseball team, and played for the Ginowan Ponies in junior high. At Konan, he played in the summer Koshien in his first and second years. Selected for the Japan U-18 national team in his third year, he joined Orix Buffaloes as the first pick in the 2019 draft. He recorded 13 wins in 2021 and was named Pacific League Rookie of the Year. He contributed to Samurai Japan's victory in the 2023 World Baseball Classic. His career record is 49 wins and 29 losses in 115 games, ERA 2.48. He is 171 cm tall and weighs 85 kg. He bats and throws left-handed. His annual salary is 220 million yen.
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