Nippon-Ham pitcher Koki Kitayama (27), who won two pitching titles in the Pacific League this season, aims for even greater success next season with the power of his 'lifting the ban on holding his child.' On the 26th, he participated for the first time in the autumn training being held at Es Con Field. After the final stage of the Climax Series on the 15th, he said, 'I spent some relaxing time with my family.' The right-hander, who led the league in wins and winning percentage, smiled and added, 'I want to start preparing now so that I can get off to a good start in December for the off-season,' as he treats this as a brief recharging period.

His greatest joy right now is holding his child, who was born last December. 'During the season, I couldn't do it because tension in my arms or back would affect my pitching. While it felt lonely, there were parts of me that had to endure it. Now, I'm basically holding the baby 24 hours a day,' he said with a laugh. While spending time with his source of healing, he is looking ahead to a breakthrough next year. 'Once the season starts, it will be tough for me, but I want to perform well so that my family can keep smiling. I'm using this time to recharge my energy before that.' By refreshing both his mind and body, he is preparing himself for battle.