Lotte's third-round draft pick, pitcher Yorihito Okumura (18) of Yokohama, participated in the third day of the rookie joint voluntary training at Lotte Urawa in Saitama City on the 12th. He worked up a sweat with running menus, training menus, catch balls, and knocking.
The first day of the rookie joint voluntary training was held at the team's home ground, Zozo Marine Stadium, on the 10th. Okumura spoke frankly about his impressions.
"When I was in high school, I often played at professional stadiums like Yokohama Stadium and Koshien, but I imagine Zozo Marine as the place with the best cheering squad in Japan. I also played in front of a large crowd at Hamasta (in the summer Kanagawa tournament), but I was really excited to be able to play in front of an even larger crowd on the professional baseball stage. I let my imagination run wild, thinking, 'It would be even more fun to play in front of an audience at this stadium.'"
The bigger the stage, the more fired up he is. He transformed pressure into strength and fulfilled his role as the ace and number four batter for the prestigious Yokohama team. With the cheers of the Marines behind him, he will swing his left arm in an electrifying moment. I can't wait to see that wild moment.
"When I was a child, I vividly remember being excited watching professional baseball and thinking, 'I want to be like that.' Next, I want to become pitcher that makes people think the same way."
I don't intend to set any big goals. I'll work hard every day and then I'll be mound for the first team. For now, I just need to keep my feet on the ground and keep training. (Kato Hiroshi)
◆Raito Okumura was born on September 8, 2007 in Hikone, Shiga, Japan. 18 years old. He started baseball in the Takamiya Sports Boys Club in the first grade and was selected as a The Tigers junior in the sixth grade. He has played for Shiga Yasu Boys since the first grade of junior high school. In his third year of junior high school, he participated in the Tsuruoka Kazuto Memorial Tournament as a Kansai Selected player and won the championship. In high school, he was on the bench from the spring of his freshman year, was named ace number one in the spring of his sophomore year, and helped his team win the Senbatsu Tournament in the spring of his junior year. In the summer, he was Koshien in the top eight. He was also a member of the Japanese high school national team for Samurai Japan, and contributed to the team's runner-up finish. He is a first-grade skier and a calligraphy master. 179 cm, 83 kg. He throws left-handed and bats left-handed.
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