On the 11th, Softbank Hawks 's fifth-round draft pick, outfielder Takanori Takahashi (JR East Japan), participated in a joint rookie training session at the farm facility in Chikugo, Fukuoka. In January, he held a joint training session in Okinawa with Hanshin Tigers 's Morishita, who is a year older than him at Chuo University, and also practiced with Hanshin Tigers 's first-round draft pick, infielder Masahiro Tateishi (Soka University). "That's crazy. He has incredible spring. There's no way I can beat him," he said, amazed by the batting power of the university's top fielder. Takahashi himself was selected as one of the best nine third basemen in third baseman baseball in 2013, but he was impressed by the skills of Tateishi, who is two years younger than him.
Softbank Hawks has acquired the negotiating rights for first-round draft infielder Rintaro Sasaki (Stanford University), and negotiations with him will begin after June, meaning Takahashi is the only rookie fielder currently participating in the team's joint voluntary training. Regarding Rintaro, Takahashi said, "We're right-handed and left-handed, so I don't think of him as a rival, but I think I have more experience playing amateur baseball, so I have more experience with him."
During his free time in the dormitory, he watches videos of the batting forms of the Cubs' Seiya Suzuki and the Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani. As a right-handed long-distance hitter, he uses their timing as a reference. "I'm from a corporate background, so time is short. My goal is to start training camp with the first team. If I can get to a higher level, I'll understand what I'm lacking," he said, imagining a story of overthrowing the current leader from the fifth pick in the draft.
Related News
・ [Photo] A famous actress throws a gorgeous opening pitch?
・ [Softbank Hawks] Hotaka Yamakawa will be putting his "Dosukoi Performance" on hold this season...
・ [Softbank Hawks] Draft No. 5 Takahashi Takayoshi's behavior as a working adult
・ [Softbank Hawks] Takahashi Takayoshi conducts voluntary training with Hanshin Tigers 's Morishita at the end of the year, "I was reminded once again of the high level of the team"
・ JR East's Takahashi Takayoshi missed out on the draft in his fourth year at Chuo University → Showed his solid performance at the Intercity Baseball Tournament
