Nippon-Ham Fighters pitcher Leo Shibata (19) entered bullpen for the first time this year at the team's second-division facility in Kamagaya, Chiba, on the 17th, and vowed to win his first professional game by mastering the "Dal Curve," modeled on the team's legend, Yu Darvish (Padres), who has a total of 208 wins in Japan and the United States.
変化球を中心に約３０球、捕手を座らせた状態では１０球を投じ、「ダルビッシュさんのカーブに近づいてきました。あれが一番最高です。あれは絶対に打てない理想の形」と、投手として「僕のロールモデル」とフォームを参考にしている先輩の魔球を再現。「ほぼ一緒です」と手応えを口にした。昨季は主に最速１５４キロの直球、スライダー、フォークが中心だったが、高校時代以来のカーブ解禁。ＣＳ前の１０月にエスコンで行われた紅白戦で試投し、好感触を得ていた。「紅白戦ではばらつきがあった中でも結構（打者の）反応が良かったので結構自信がある。１３０キロ出たらいいな」と、高速カーブを理想とする。
Last season, his first year as a pro, he made four appearances with ERA of 2.92. He attracted attention by serving as the opening pitcher in the second half of the season, but was unable to secure his first professional win. "One win. One win as a starter. I'd like to pitch around seven innings. If I'm being ambitious, I'd like to complete game. After that, I'll train the batters in the minor leagues," he said. Following in the footsteps of his great senior, this two-way player is aiming to become the first player of his generation to win his first game.
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