Lotte pitcher Yuto Yuto Kimura (20) entered bullpen for the first time this year at Lotte Urawa Baseball Stadium on the 19th and threw 15 pitches.

The temperature was about 7 degrees Celsius at 10 a.m. when I entered the outdoor bullpen, but I was in a spirited short-sleeved pitch. I threw with about 60% effort. "The actual game is in a month, so I went in today to throw for that. I feel really good. Compared to last year, it is totally different. I'm also getting stronger.

He joined the team as the third pick in the 2011 draft from Kasumigaura and made his first team debut last season, recording 3 wins, 2 losses, 1 ERA, 5 hold, and an ERA of 3.31, including his first professional win. On the 11th, he attended a "20th Birthday Gathering" held in his hometown of Tsuchiura, Ibaraki, where he warmed up to friends.

"It's been a while since we last met, so we talked about a lot of things. I was really happy because they supported me more than I expected. I think this season will be really important, so I want to do my best to live up to their expectations." His words were filled with awareness of being 20 years old and his determination as the young leader of the Lotte pitcher staff.