Orix Buffaloes Kenya Wakatsuki catcher (30) vowed to re-team with Yoshinobu Yamamoto (Dodgers) on March 30 to become the world's No. 1 pitcher in consecutive years. I'm looking forward to it because he's a world-class player. I'm looking forward to seeing him again for the first time since November 4, 2011, when they met in Game 6 of the Japan Series against the Kyocera D. "He's half the player I used to catch, and of course I think he's grown up, so I'm looking forward to seeing that side of him too. Hanshin Tigers
"This is my first experience, so I think there are many things I don't know, but I want to do my best without holding back." In preparation for his first major international tournament, he has been practicing with the tournament ball during the off-season. "I wanted to get an idea of what Darvish was like..." he said, gathering information from Miyagi, Udagawa, and Yamazaki, who participated in the previous tournament in 2013, to help him expand his image.
Ahead of the Samurai Japan Miyazaki training camp starting on February 14, he plans to practice using the electronic device "Pitchcom," which will be used to communicate signs during the tournament, at the team's spring training camp starting on February 1. In bullpen, he plans to catch as many pitches as possible from Miyagi and Soya, who are also on the WBC team.
On this day, he flew to Miyazaki with the team. "Last year we came in third, so we were quite far behind the top two teams. The small details are important," he said, not forgetting his role as the chairman of Orix Buffaloes players' association. After consecutive world championships, his ultimate goal is to become Japan's number one team for the first time in four years. First, he will spend a busy month in Miyazaki. (Nambu Shunta)
○...Manager Kishida encouraged the team's WBC players to participate in the "first real game of 2012." The first intrasquad game is scheduled for February 8th during the second round of Miyazaki training camp. "(Wakatsuki) will probably play, and I think (Miyagi and Soya) should pitch as well," he said, urging the three to get ready early. On that day, he flew to Miyazaki with the team. "It will be a good experience, and I'm sure they'll show their strength," he said, giving his stamp of approval to their contribution to the team's consecutive world championships.
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・ [Senbatsu] The Giants first draft pick Kazuyuki Takemaru's alma mater, Sutoku, has qualified for the tournament for the first time in 33 years. Former Hiroshima manager Ryuzo Yamazaki, a member of the 1976 Spring Championship team, said, "I'm in favor of the DH system."
・ [Hiroshima] Nakamura Shosei aims to avoid the "second-year jinx" and gets off to a rocket start in his first game on February 10th. "I'm more excited than anxious."
・ [Orix Buffaloes] Kenya Wakatsuki: "How much can I help the team win? I really want to work to win." He pledges to make both tangible and intangible contributions to the team's first WBC
・ [Orix Buffaloes] Kenya Wakatsuki is "super-fast" and ready to go to the WBC. "I'm grateful that he'll be pitching." Live BP against Alen Kuri also planned.
