Nippon-Ham pitcher Koki Kitayama (26) gave an exclusive interview to Sports Hochi on the 3rd, where he spoke about his aspirations for this season, his fifth year in the league. One of the reasons he achieved his career-high last season was the unique training method "BC Exercise," which is also used by Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto (27). He spoke frankly about the effectiveness of the method and his mission as a disciple.

(Reporting and editing by Haruki Kawakami)

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The confident 26-year-old carefully crafted his words. Last season he recorded a career-high nine wins and a 1.63 ERA, second in the league. This season, his fifth year, marks a major turning point in his baseball career.

"This year I want to perfect my game as pitcher. I envisioned my future when I was in high school, and my long-term goal was to reach that milestone when I turned 27. I want to become pitcher who represents Japan in terms of numbers, technique, ability and recognition. I want to perform so well that I can sweep up all the titles."

-Last season, he stayed in the rotation throughout the season and pitched the required number innings pitched for the first time in his career.

"I don't feel tired. I don't feel like any part of my body is screaming or feeling unwell. I think the care methods and self-awareness I've learned so far are paying off."

-The secret to maintaining his condition is the "BC Exercise" taught by trainer Osamu Yada, who is also the mentor of Dodgers pitcher Yamamoto and whom he has been attending since before he turned pro.

"There's a word called 'naturalness,' but things don't flow smoothly if you move or have an unnatural posture. I'm pursuing how to move in a way that is efficient and doesn't use unnecessary force."

- A typical lesson is not to use weight training. The key is to make training as close as possible to a match and train efficiently.

"I practice using movements that make the most of my body. I don't lift weights, but I imagine I'm training with a lot of strain using my own body weight. If you push yourself to the limits with weights, you can't perform well in a match. This means that there are definitely movements and muscles that are not really necessary for a match. I eliminate those unnecessary elements and focus on the essence of my training."

-Yamamoto, a student of trainer Yada, showed incredible consecutive pitching in last year's World Series and was named MVP.

"Based on what Yata Sensei taught, those consecutive pitches were not surprising at all. Yoshinobu is also a success story that is spreading all over the world. In order to prove that the initiative itself is genuine, the younger generation, like me, needs to grow. I feel a sense of romance in increasing the credibility of Yata Sensei's teachings in this way."

number 15, who has strong beliefs, is bringing a breath of fresh air to baseball world with his performance.

◆Kitayama Koki was born on April 10, 1999 in Kyoto, Japan. 26 years old. He was an ace Koshien in the summer of his junior year at Kyoto Seisho. He was drafted 8th overall in the 2021 draft by Kyosan University Nippon-Ham. pitcher The first time I saw him, I thought he was a good player, but he was a bit of a daredevil. He is 182 cm, 86 kg. Pitches right-handed and bats right-handed. Married.