On the 20th, Softbank Hawks infielder Akihiro held a public training session in Naha, Okinawa with The Giants infielder Hayato Sakamoto and others, and vowed to make a comeback in 2026 with an "ultra-aggressive attitude."
Until 2025, Sakamoto practiced with Sho Nakata, who retired last season, during the off-season, but explained, "He retired, and (Sakamoto) was the senior who Sho took the utmost care of after he left The Giants. He's not only good at baseball, but he also has incredible numbers, so I really wanted to learn a lot from him, and that's why I asked him." Nakata also encouraged him, saying, "He's been playing since he was about 19 years old, so learn a lot," and he spends his days working up a sweat in Naha.
Regarding Sakamoto, who boasts a total of 2,447 hit in his professional career, he said, "He taught me how to swing according to the situation and how to prepare my mind. I watched him closely, from behind, and saw that there were hundreds of different swing styles, and his way of thinking is amazing. I want to expand my own repertoire even more." Furthermore, he was most impressed by Sakamoto's strong mentality, saying, "I've seen a lot of people up until now, but I think his attitude towards practice and his mindset are the best."
"If a player of that level can do this much, it makes me think that we have to do even more," he said, becoming more aware of his abilities. Last December, he practiced with Softbank Hawks 's Yamakawa, and is actively continuing to learn top-notch techniques. "We're also doing high-quality practice, so I hope to be in good shape going into February." He will approach training camp and the season with the energy of his days with this great legend.
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