Rakuten Eagles outfielder Ryosuke Tatsumi who had exercised his domestic free agent (FA) rights, announced on the 16th that he would remain with the team, making the competition for regular outfielder even more intense.
Standing at the far right of the regular lineup is Daisuke Nakashima outfielder, who grabbed a regular spot last year. Last season, he reached the regulation batting lineup for the first time and made great strides with a .260 batting average, 6 Home Run, 31 RBI, and 22 stolen base. In his third year outfielder, he is determined to secure a permanent place in the lineup, saying, "I'm going to surpass my performance from last year.
Tatsumi, who has been decided to stay, struggled last season with a .240 batting average, 7 Home Run and 32 RBI in 114 games, including a fall to the second team. defense He is one of the most powerful players in the baseball world, and if his batting average, which marked the highest hit in 24 years, is restored, he will be the center of the team offensively and defensively.
High expectations are also high for the team's foreign player duo. The team signed outfielder Carson McCusker, who played for the Twins until last season, as a new foreign player. He hit 22 home runs in Triple-A last season, making his power impressing. Attention is focused on whether outfielder Oscar Gonzalez who joined the team midway through last season and only hit four Home Run, can bounce back.
The return of outfielder Yuya Ogo will have a major impact on the competition. In 2012, he was the only player from the 12 teams to play the full inning in every game, but last season he played in just 90 games, batting .173 with just two Home Run, a dismal performance. He's heading into a crucial season.
Naoki Sato outfielder who joined the team from Softbank Hawks in the active player draft, will also be in contention. Last season, he played in a career-high 104 games for Softbank Hawks, which boasts a deep roster, batting .239 with 5 Home Run and 18 RBI. The 27-year-old, who possesses great running, hitting, and fielding abilities, has the potential to become a regular player in his new home.
The team is also eyeing young players. outfielder Soshi Yoshino was the first draft pick in 2021, got his first professional hit last season. This offseason, he is on a roll, having performed well in the winter league in Taiwan.
The team had been in fourth place for four consecutive years until last season. The team will be revitalized through fierce competition between young players, mid-career players, veterans, and foreign players.
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