"This year's theme is controlling my entire body and strengthening the image of throwing using my core and trunk."

Lotte's Yuto Yoshikawa had this to say about the theme of his off-season training:

Up until now, Yoshikawa has always said that he throws by coordinating his "upper body" and "lower body," but perhaps this is something different.

"Yes, it's a little different. We're working on that (the coordination between the upper and lower body), but next we'll be working on the coordination between the body and arms, or rather, right now we're working on the coordination between the upper body and extremities."

When asked about the difference in the power of the ball due to being conscious of the connection between the "upper body" and "extremities," he replied, "I don't know because I haven't actually thrown it (to hitter), but you'll have to try throwing it in a real game," and gave a positive response, saying, "So far, I think it's good."

Last season, he was registered as a controlled player on July 31st, pitched in two games for the first team, and earned his first professional win in a game Rakuten Eagles on August 21st. Perhaps after pitching in two games for the first team, he felt that fastball was effective.

"If I had been able to pitch in the right spot, I should have been closer to a certain extent. But it's obvious that you can't closer with just a straight pitch. So the question is how to use breaking ball. In the minor leagues, if you work hard you can do well even if you mainly throw straight pitches, but in the major leagues, they'll only throw straight pitches or breaking ball, so it's up to me to find a good combination."

As for breaking ball, until last season he mainly used slider and change-up. "I don't have any intention of modifying change-up, so I'd like to keep it as it is, but as for slider, I've talked to analysts and they said that it has a lower ball speed and amount of movement than the average for NPB, so I'd like to make some bold changes."

slider In the game against The Giants the second team on June 29 last year, he threw a vertically falling slider pitch to Dai Yuasa in the top of the 3rd inning of a 3-0 game, striking out struck out with a vertically falling slider pitch from 2 strike to the top of the 3rd inning. I wonder if he is trying to throw the vertical slider variation.

"It feels like the cut is dropping vertically, so I'm hoping to basically go with a fastball, slider, cut and change-up. We were talking about how if we call slider I'm throwing now a curveball and replace the cut with slider, it would be about average (for NPB). Plus, I'm thinking of creating another new cut, so I think from this year it will be a fastball, cut, slider, curveball and change-up."

Spring training on February 1st is fast approaching. "From the first pitch in February, I want to bring my overall level of completion to the highest level I have ever reached. I think actual games will start soon, so I will be in bullpen from February 1st, and from that point on I will be able to pitch with actual games in mind. Rather than focusing on basic techniques like a fastball, I would like to focus on practical techniques such as a quick pitch."

Furthermore, Yoshikawa said, "I haven't been told whether it will be Ishigaki (camp) or Miyakonojo (camp) (as of the time of this interview on January 15th), but my goal remains the same: to be able to go to Itoman. First, I want to be able to adapt to Itoman properly. After that, the second is to make a strong impression in the exhibition games, and for now my main goal is to be on the first team at the start of the season. After that, I want to be on the first team for as long as possible, but of course I want to be able to complete the season...I don't want to talk negatively, but it's difficult to complete the season, so I'd like to be able to be with the first team for about 70% to 80% of the time." He spoke about his plans for this season.

As for his numerical goals for this season, I think he'll aim for 3 to 5 wins in the first team and around 100 inning pitch

"Last year I pitched just under 70 inning (64) in the minor leagues, so I'm imagining that I'll pitch over 100 or 120 in total for the majors and minor leagues, with the majority of my wins being in the major leagues. If we win the championship, I think it would be fine to say, 'I'll aim for 10 wins!' But ideally, with my current level of ability, I'd like other people to win a lot of games and I'd like to pitch in the valleys between games, so I'd like to get five wins."

At this time last season, he was aiming to be registered as a controlled player, but if he can produce results as a controlled player this year, he could be on the opening day first team and even in the starting rotation. I hope he will perform well and surpass his goal in a good way.

Interview and text by Yuta Iwashita