Orix Buffaloes Seiya Yokoyama infielder (20) is about to come out of his shell in a big way. He is a future star candidate who was drafted first overall in the 2023 draft by Ueda Nishi (Nagano). His third year will be a real challenge. I want to do it with a strong mindset that I'm serious about getting a regular spot.

Last year, in his second year after graduating from high school, he had a batting average of .217 with two Home Run and 35 RBI in 96 games in the Western League. While the numbers themselves may not be what he was hoping for, he has been improving since the summer, hitting line drive to the middle of the Kyocera Dome in a game against Hiroshima on July 29th. He revealed that he has improved the position of the top of the bat so that he can swing it in the shortest distance, and commented with satisfaction, "I was able to grasp something intuitively, and express that in the game." Believing that dealing with fastballs and identifying balls as balls are the keys to improving his batting ability, during the Kochi camp in November he silently swung the bat, focusing on a more "efficient trajectory."

Although he has only appeared in 14 games in the first team, the full swing of the player number 34 is reminiscent of the late Masataka Yoshida (Red Sox). "If I can play various positions, I'll get more playing opportunities." In addition to his main position of shortstop, he is also practicing at third base and second base, intending to challenge the regulars such as Kurebayashi, So, Hirooka, and Ota. His physical abilities, including a 50-meter dash time of 6.3 seconds and a throwing distance of 120 meters, and his extraordinary baseball sense are second to none on the team. His blossoming is just around the corner. (Shunta Nanbu)

Seiya Yokoyama was born on October 28, 2005 in Nagano, Japan. 20 years old. He has been on the bench since the spring of his freshman year at Ueda Nishi High School and has been a regular on the basepaths since the spring of his sophomore year. pitcher He also plays at the same time, and his fastest speed is 149 km/h. He has a high school record of 30 . Home Run He was drafted in the first round of the 2011 draft by Orix Buffaloes. He is 181 cm, 86 kg, and has a batting average of .104 in 14 games. He throws right-handed and bats left-handed.