[Rakuten Eagles] Third-year left-hander Tatsuki Koja 's goal is to "finish the game" and improve his physical condition to achieve the required innings pitched for the first time | Pacific League

[Rakuten Eagles] Third-year left-hander Tatsuki Koja 's goal is to "finish the game" and improve his physical strength to achieve the required innings pitched for the first time.

Sports Hochi

2026.1.21(水) 13:27

Rakuten Eagles of Tatsuki Koja pitcher (24) opened his voluntary training at his home base, Rakuten Eagles Mobile's Strongest Park, on March 21. The left-hander, who won seven games last season, set "finishing the race" as his goal for his third year as a professional.

He had five wins in his first year and seven wins in his second year, the most among the team's starters, but he only innings pitched 83 1/3 innings, or 107 innings, which was short of the required number of innings pitched pitched. Last year, he started well, pitching his first complete game and shutout game as a pro against Lotte Marines on April 6th (ZOZO), but then his form deteriorated and win in May and June. He was demoted to the second team and was unable to "complete" the season.

The biggest reason for his inconsistent performance is poor form due to a lack of physical strength. This offseason, he focused on "eliminating clear issues" by running and core training. Furthermore, he wanted to "improve the reproducibility of his form when he's tired," so he checked video and data while also working on improving pitch form to eliminate unnecessary upper body movements. At the start of the new year, he trained independently at his alma mater, Toin University of Yokohama, where he was inspired by the sight of his juniors aiming to play professional or amateur baseball.

　則本がＦＡで巨人に移籍し、早川が左肩手術のリハビリでキャンプは２軍スタートとなる中、３年目で初の開幕投手候補にも浮上しているが、「まずはローテーションをとらなきゃいけない立場」。昨年はキャンプ序盤でやや調整が遅れただけに、早めの仕上げで首脳陣にアピールする考え。「まず健康第一で１年間完走したい。その先に規定投球回が見えてくると思います」と、先発ローテ堅守を誓った。

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