Lotte's four rookies start spring training with the first team! First-round draft pick Genki Ishigaki tells fans, "Watch us doing our best!"

Baseball King

2026.1.22(木) 08:00

Four rookie players from Lotte starting their first-team training camp (Photo by Yuta Iwashita)
Four rookie players from Lotte starting their first-team training camp (Photo by Yuta Iwashita)

The allocation of Lotte's spring training camp members was announced on the 22nd, with four players selected for the first team: first-round draft pick Genki Ishigaki (Kendai Takasaki High School), second-round draft pick Kaito Mori (Meiji University), fifth-round draft pick Hayato Fuji (Nippon Express), and seventh-round draft pick Taisei (Honda Suzuka).

Genki Ishigaki stated his determination, saying, "It's been my goal for a long time, so first of all, I want to get used to the atmosphere and show my strengths." Seniors with a proven track record in the first team, such as Kazuya Ojima, who has reached the required innings pitched five consecutive years, Shuta Ishikawa, Fumiya Ono, and Rikuto Yokoyama, will be joining the first team camp. "I'd like to start by saying hello and getting them to remember me, and then I'll be able to talk to them," he said, adding that he would like to watch all of the senior right-handed pitcher pitch in bullpen.

The rookie joint training camp is being held without spectators, but many The Marines fans are expected to come and watch the spring training camp. Genki Ishigaki said to the fans, "I want you to come and see us doing our best with energy and enthusiasm."

Mori, who is ranked second, will be heading into training camp with the first team, but said, "I hope to do things at my own pace," and hopes to absorb as much as he can from fellow left-handed pitcher Kojima, including how he will prepare to compete for a year.

Fuji, ranked fifth, expressed his joy, saying, "I'm honestly happy, and I'd like to learn a lot from my seniors." On this day, Fuji entered bullpen for the fourth time in the rookie joint voluntary training. For the first time, he had catcher sit down and threw 21 pitches.

During his standing pitching on the 20th, he said, "It was cold, and my fingertips didn't grip the ball well, so I'll make sure to fix that next time." However, during bullpen pitch on this day, he said, "My body moved well today, and even though it was my first time sitting down, I was conscious of my control, so I think it's better than last time." He had made some clear corrections from last time.

Taisei, ranked 7th, said enthusiastically, "I'm honestly happy. I'm really going to be playing in the first team, so I thought I'd take it easy, but I'll just do what I can now and make adjustments so I can make an impression in the first team."

With spring training less than two weeks away, it's important for the rookies to prepare well to get off to the best possible start.

Interview and text by Yuta Iwashita

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Lotte's four rookies start spring training with the first team! First-round draft pick Genki Ishigaki tells fans, "Watch us doing our best!"