On the 26th, Samurai Japan manager Hirokazu Ibata (50) announced additional members of the Japanese national team that will be competing in the 6th World Baseball Classic (WBC) in March, with Orix Buffaloes pitcher Ryuhei Sotani (25) being selected for the first time. "When I was selected for the national team, the first thing I felt was, 'I'm glad I've been playing baseball.' I want to play with confidence and determination as a representative of Japan, and I'll do my best to contribute to the team's win," he commented.
Manager Ibata explained the reason for the selection, saying, "pitcher Soya showed us that kind of pitching in the training matches last fall. Of all the players we called up, he was the one who was best able to adapt to MLB ball. We decided that if he could throw that ball in the spring, he would be able to closer the opposition in check."
The left-handed slot is a valuable one. As of the last announcement, there were only two left-handers: Yusei Kikuchi (Angels) as a starter and Hiroki Matsui (Padres) as a reliever lefty. Along with his colleague Miyagi, he will bring depth to the left pitcher armament. His signature pitch is the "roller coaster slider," named by a friend in college after its curvature. In his third year as a pro, he won a career-high eight games (eight losses) in the starting rotation last season, and was selected for the Samurai Japan squad for the November training game against South Korea, where he made an appealing pitching debut with a perfect third inning closer.
He is enjoying a fulfilling life both in his personal and professional life, and announced his marriage on his Instagram on December 25th of last year. "I have more to protect, and I will approach baseball with even more responsibility and determination. I would appreciate your continued support," the rising southpaw wrote, and will contribute to Japan's consecutive victories.
◆Sotani Ryuhei was born on November 30th, 2000 in Ikaruga, Nara. He is 25 years old. In junior high, he played for Shiki Boys, making it to the top eight in the country. At Meiso (Akita), he was a classmate of current Lotte player Yamaguchi. In the summer of his second year, he played Koshien in the summer of 2017 as a backup pitcher. At Hakuoh University, he strike out in the Kanto Koshin League in the spring of his third year, and won the Outstanding Player Award in the fall of the same year. In the spring of his fourth year, he pitched a no-hit no-run game, and represented Japan University at the Harlem Tournament in July. He joined Orix Buffaloes as the first pick in the 2022 draft. He is 183 cm tall and weighs 83 kg. He throws and bats left-handed.
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