Rakuten Eagles infielder Akira Shigenaga set goals on the 27th to increase his slugging power and strengthen his physical condition. He participated in practice at the team's home base in Sendai starting that day. He expressed his enthusiasm, saying, 'Since slugging is a challenge in my batting, I want to review and improve my form.'

In his first season after joining as a third-round draft pick from Chuo University, he appeared in 27 games this year, recording a .186 batting average and 5 RBI. In the farm league, he played in 71 games with a .318 batting average, 0 Home Runs, and 27 RBI. He analyzed his performance, saying, 'I am getting hits, and I use my ability to make contact as a selling point, but because I make contact so easily, I am not swinging through properly. I end up reaching for balls I am not waiting for and making contact with them. I believe that hitting the balls I am targeting with power will lead to extra-base hits, so I want to work on that as a challenge.'

After the season ended, he began working on improving his batting form. He has changed to a style where he swings from a stance with his upper body tilted forward more than before. He explained his objective, saying, 'I am batting with the image of creating a bit of an angle. If I stand straight up and go to hit, it is difficult to get an angle and I end up hitting a lot of ground balls, so tilting forward a bit makes it easier to create that angle. That is why I am conscious of leaning forward slightly.'

While reviewing his form, he will also refine his physical strength. 'I will also work hard on weight training. Even if the launch angle increases slightly, without power, it will just end up as a fly ball, so I want to address that. I want to strengthen my core and lower body.' By aiming to level up, he intends to seize a regular position in his second season next year.