On the 13th, Softbank Hawks pitcher Tomohisa Ozeki held a public training session at Tama Stadium Chikugo in Fukuoka. If appointed, he will be the opening pitcher for the second time in three years, and he expressed his enthusiasm, saying, "I want to prepare well as usual. If I'm entrusted with the role, I'll be happy to do my best."
In the opening game of 2023 (against Lotte), he allowed two hit, seven strike out, and no runs in seven innings, becoming the win pitcher. He has a good impression of the experience of taking on such an important role, saying, "It was fulfilling to be entrusted with the team's first game." In 2025, closer ERA to 1.80 against Nippon-Ham, who will face him in the opening three-game series. He is currently trying out a new pitch that drops a bit like sinker, and said, "I think they're definitely a powerful batting lineup, so I want to improve my strength so closer," and will enter the season looking to improve his level.
Kohei Arihara who served as the opening pitcher in 2014 and 2015, has been transferred to Nippon-Ham. At the end of 2015, he revealed that he had exchanged words with Arihara at the Mizuho PayPay Dome, saying, "I'm looking forward to pitching against him," and expressed his enthusiasm, saying, "I hope we can have a game (of pitching against each other)." If they take mound at the same time, he plans to go head-to-head, saying, "Wouldn't it be great if we could both pitch until the ninth inning?"
Arihara recorded 14 wins and 175 inning in 2013. Ozeki has stated his goals as "I want to aim for 15 or 16 wins" and "I'd like to be able to pitch 7 inning consistently." Rather than filling in the gaps, he will perform well enough to make up for it.
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