Lotte's first-round draft pick, right-handed pitcher Genki Ishigaki, who has a fastest pitch speed of 158 km/h and is from Kendai Takasaki, said on the 2nd that his New Year's resolution is to win a professional title.
"Once I turn pro, I would like to win various titles such as most strike out, but my future goal is to win the Sawamura Award. I think this title is the highest award pitcher receive, and I've heard that no one on my team has ever won it, so I wanted to aim for that level," he said, setting his sights on the near future as he wins the Sawamura Award, which is given to starter who performs the best in the season.
Over the New Year holidays, he returned to his hometown of Noboribetsu, Hokkaido, and has been working hard at weight training, focusing on his lower body, at the local gym. "When it's not snowing, I play catch or run outside the house. The rookie joint training camp will start soon, but I think the most important thing is to avoid injury. I tend to get a little too excited and overwork myself, so I'm making sure to take good care of my body and, first of all, I want to start camp in top condition and in good health," he said enthusiastically.
Coach Saburo, who has already made a job offer as a member of the first team camp next spring, said, "My image is that I am thinking of starting in the future. I think I will become a starter who represents the baseball world, saying, "I think I will be able to pitch in the reliever (at first), but basically I will start as a starter." Lotte's number 18 will soon start walking on the road to the Sawamura Award.
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