Nippon-Ham Shun Mizutani outfielder (24) of the "KOBE" team arrived in Nago, Okinawa, where the camp is located, on January 30. He arrived at his lodgings wearing a pineapple nail in honor of his role as the Nago Pineapple Park Ambassador and said, "I think I had a good time in Hawaii in January, and I've made a good plan for the three months from November to here, so I'm ready.
During the off-season, he focused on building a big, mobile body. "I've been focusing on increasing the volume of my body, which is visible to the naked eye, and today, I met a lot of people for the first time in a while and they told me I've gotten bigger, which I think is what they said about the image they had of me in November, so I think I've passed," he said, looking forward to putting the results of his off-season training to good use at camp.
Before the main team arrived that day, player chairman Shin Kiyomiya announced this season's slogan, "DOMI!" "That's typical of Kiyomiya. If the team is heading in that direction, I want to head in that direction too, and if we're late to get there, it won't matter, so I want to keep on domi," he said, already demonstrating his determination to use the new slogan to work together as one.
Last season, the batting average of the number 1 hitter was Pacific League the lowest. Manager Shinjo also cited the "No. 1 problem" as an issue, saying, "I've been allowed to hit No. 1 the most, and that may be the team's number, but it could also be seen as my own number. As an individual, I seem to be hitting .272 as No. 1, and I've also hit 10 home run, so I don't think that's a number I'm ashamed of. I will perform for the team where they can really use me this year. But if I am told in that way, I will say, 'Well, I'll hit all of them this year,' so I want to keep that in mind. batting order He says that he is not particular about the number of hits he will make this year, but he will put the team's win first and put his name in contention for the No. 1 spot.
Last season he had a batting average of .277, 12 Home Run and 6 stolen base. "If I can improve my batting average and home run rate on top of my current numbers, and if I can stolen base more bases, then simply put, I'll be like Ohtani. I think he's at an even higher level than me, so it's presumptuous to say I can aim for that level, but I would like to become that type of batter," he said, chasing in the footsteps of the legend and aiming for even greater heights.
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