On the 28th, Nippon-Ham pitcher Koki Kitayama (26) expressed his excitement for working together with fellow alumnus Yamamoto (Dodgers) in the WBC, which begins in March. They have been going to the same training facility in Osaka since their university days, and Yamamoto will be training under trainer Yada, whom he has immense trust in. He will also be training with Yamamoto this offseason, saying, "There are so many hidden hints when catch next to each other." As he will be teammates with his respected senior for the first time, Kitayama boasted, "There is a lot more to feel than just learning with your head. I think it will ignite a fire in my heart."

He will also be teammates with Ohtani (Dodgers) for the first time, and said, "It's presumptuous to listen and observe. I'm looking forward to being up close to Ohtani and feeling what he's like." While remaining humble towards the superstar, he will absorb the essence of the world's best and bring it back to himself.

On this day, he joined the team's early voluntary training in Nago, Okinawa, and entered bullpen. Using the WBC ball, he threw nine pitches with catcher sitting down. At the Premier 12 in 2024, he will be in full swing, making long relief appearances and other plays. In his first appearance at the WBC, he will also be expected to play a versatility role. "I want to be able to contribute whenever I'm asked to," he said. The 26-year-old, an essential member of Ibata Japan, is steadily progressing with his preparations. (Kawakami Haruki)