The third overall pick of the Nippon-Ham draft, Ruan Ohtsuka (Ruan) infielder (22) = Tokai University, who is undergoing joint voluntary training at the 2nd Army facility in Kamagaya, Chiba, listed Seibu Lions and Sosuke Genda infielder (32) as players he admires and set his goal to "represent Japan short stop" on the 17th.

With crisp steps, he handles the batted balls with a light touch. Otsuka took ground balls at shortstop and flashed a refreshing smile. "I want to make batting a strength as well, but first I want to focus on defense. I want to become short stop who represents Japan, like Genda (Seibu Lions Lions)." He has set his sights on defense specialist who has won the Golden Glove Award seven times and has been selected for the WBC Samurai Japan team for two consecutive tournaments.

He transforms bitter experiences into strength. As captain of Tokai University Sagami High School in his third year, his team won the 2021 Spring Koshien tournament, but he himself contracted acute gastroenteritis and missed the quarterfinals and beyond. "I still regret not being able to stand on ground until the end. I've been conscious of managing my physical condition ever since, and it's been a driving force for me now," he says, explaining that this experience became the starting point for him to understand nutrients and control his eating habits, such as managing meal times. While at Tokai University, he was also selected for the Samurai Japan collegiate national team.

He is from the same Tochigi prefecture as Tokai University Sagami's then ace, The Giants' Hayato Ishida (4th pick in the 2021 draft), and they still keep in touch. Before the draft, he went out to eat with Ishida, and was surprised and inspired by his growth as a professional, saying, "When I met him after a long time, he had gotten quite big."

Competition for the middle infield spots on the opening day roster will be fierce, with players like Yamagata, Mizuno, Kamikawabata, and new foreign player Castro vying for the positions. "My desire to help the team win is second to none," says baseball elite who survived at a prestigious school, joining the Shinjo Fighters' survival battle. (Haruki Kawakami)

◆Otsuka Ruan Born October 26, 2003, in Tochigi City. 22 years old. Started playing baseball at Tochigi Minami Elementary School, and played for Yakult Junior in sixth grade. At Tochigi Minami Junior High School, he was a member of the Koyama Boys, and participated in national tournaments such as the Giants Cup. At Tokai University Sagami, he played at Koshien twice, and served as captain in his third year, leading the team to victory in the Spring Senbatsu Tournament. He began playing at Tokai University in the spring of his second year, and was also selected for the Samurai Japan University National Team. His mother's family home is the soba restaurant "Okoshiji" in Kanuma City, Tochigi. He is 169 cm tall and weighs 74 kg. He throws right and bats left.