Nippon-Ham catcher Kengo Yoshida (25) participated in an early training session in Nago, Okinawa on the 24th, and expressed his enthusiasm for his first attempt at second base. In addition to his main position as catcher, the powerful utility pitcher, who can also play first base, third base, and left field, is looking for more potential and aims to become a regular player.
second baseman Yoshida showed off his nimble movements under the strong tropical sunshine. He took practice at second base with veterans Kamikawahata and Yamagata, saying, "If I can increase the number of defensive positions I can play, I think I can also catcher, and it will be easier to keep me on the bench, so I would like to use that to my advantage and improve on my strengths." Last season, despite being registered catcher, he played in three games at first base and 18 games in left field. In October of last year, in the Phoenix League, he was approached by management and played at second base for the first time in his life, and this utility player is exploring further possibilities.
During the off-season, he continued to train under DeNA Miyazaki as an apprentice, and conducted joint training in Miyazaki Prefecture. In terms of diet, he completely cut out carbohydrates for about two weeks and began transforming his body. "In order to maintain my weight, I ate so much chicken that I lost count of how many chickens I ate," he said, focusing his diet on Miyazaki's high-protein local chicken. For breakfast, he had a low-fat white omelet made with only the whites of 10 eggs, and when it came to grilled meat, he focused on lean red meat, in pursuit of his ideal physique.
Miyazaki, who has been the batting hitter twice, taught him not only batting techniques but also the attitude of pushing himself, and he was impressed by his high level of awareness, saying, "His attitude of taking the initiative to seek out the amount of running and the amount of weight he puts in is the secret to his long-term success at the top level."
Last season, his first year after transferring from Softbank Hawks, he played in a career-high 47 games, batting .217 with four Home Run, including his first in the professional league. Manager Shinjo praised Yoshida's outstanding batting ability, saying at a staff meeting on January 7th, "Yoshida's batting was good in the second half, wasn't it?" Yoshida said, "Personally, I'd like to bat first or second." The 25-year-old brings four gloves: catcher, first base, infield, and outfield, and is looking to expand his possibilities to become a regular player. (Kawakami Haruki)
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