Lotte's second-ranked development player, Yoshihide Takahashi (Tokushima, Shikoku League), has experience playing against NPB teams such as Softbank Hawks and The Giants during his time with Tokushima.

In an interview on November 21st of last year, he said, "We played a game against Softbank Hawks in April, and Kurihara was in the game, and I struck out two of them closer two at-bats, which gave me confidence." He started in an interleague game against Softbank Hawks held in Chikugo on April 16th of last year, and with the score tied at 0-0 and two outs and no runner on base in the first inning, he struck out Ryoya Kurihara with a 128 km/h slider on a 2-ball, 1-strike, for a fly ball to center field. In the following third inning, with the score tied at 0-0 and two outs and runners on first and second, he struck out Kurihara Ryoya with a 146 km/h fastball on the third strike, for a grounder to first base, giving him confidence.

When asked again what specifically gave him confidence, he reflected, "I gained a lot of confidence from being able to hold off a player who was doing really well in the first team in closer two at-bats."

Last season, Takahashi pitched in three games against Softbank Hawks and one game against The Giants, pitching three scoreless runs against Softbank Hawks on April 16, four runs innings on May 10, and five runs innings on July 27. He also started against The Giants on May 14, pitching five innings, allowing five hit, closer strike out, and no runs.

What did they do well against NPB teams and what were their shortcomings?

"I realized that control was important, and if I went for a soft shot, I'd get hit."

Although he is a rookie, playing against NPB teams during his time with Tokushima is a great experience. At the rookie joint voluntary training that began on the 10th, he entered bullpen for the first time since joining the pros on the 23rd, throwing 20 straight pitches with catcher fastball, saying, "I think the trajectory and extension of the ball was better than I expected."

With spring training starting on February 1st, he wants to "build a body that can pitch for a whole year" and build up his stamina to compete for a year as a professional.

Interview and text by Yuta Iwashita