Nippon-Ham On November 11, Ryota Isobata outfielder of the Japan Professional Baseball League (JPSL) held a training session at Kisami Athletic Park in Shimoda, Shizuoka, with Akiyama and other members of the Hiroshima team. The conditions were cold and windy, but they worked up a sweat with basic defense practice, hitting off the tee, and free hitting at ground and then training to run up a steep hill of sand at the Tago Sand Ski Resort.
Ichibata, whose biggest goal this season is to secure a regular spot, said, "I'm trying to improve my swing rate at balls and simply the speed of my hits, but there are some things I won't know until I get into a real game. In other words, I'm trying to prepare so that I can make a strong impression from the first day of camp here in Shimoda."
He received advice from Akiyama again this year. "In terms of batting, my problem is that I tend to turn my body a little open. I had a conversation with him, exchanging opinions, and he taught me some techniques, so I'd like to put them into practice," he said.
He often felt the sharp weakness of his body. "I get hit by balls quite often, and players who get hit by balls don't get the bat off the bat properly, so it's a waste. I want to get the bat moving more firmly (shift my weight forward). I want to reduce the number of balls I hit myself." He will use balls he hits himself as a barometer to work on overcoming his challenges.
Last November, he was selected for Samurai Japan for a training match against South Korea. When asked about his thoughts on the WBC, he said, "It's the biggest stage, and I would like to be selected, but honestly I don't know. If I'm selected, I'll do my best to perform to the best of my ability, and even if I'm not selected, I'll just keep moving forward with The Fighters becoming number one in Japan."
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