Orix Buffaloes infielder Ho Naito (22) revealed on the 2nd that he has been practicing 'sumo wrestler training' taught directly by a former Sekiwake. The right-handed slugger candidate 'apprenticed' under Oshima-oyakata, who was active under the name Kyokutenho and won one top-division championship, through an acquaintance. 'Both sumo wrestlers and I are heavy. It was a great time being able to ask a lot about how to use the body,' he said, as they gathered around a chanko hot pot and he received 'training' that connects to baseball.

In 2024, his second year as a professional, he was sidelined for a long period due to a dislocated left shoulder. Considering that sumo is also a sport with many dislocations, he was taught training methods primarily using his own body weight, such as push-ups and pull-ups, with the advice: 'People with loose joints must compensate with muscle. You have to build more strength than others.' Both weigh over 100 kilograms and share the same character for 'Ho' in their names. 'I hope to keep working at it consistently. Since he is supporting me, I want to achieve good results and report back to him,' he said, looking forward to their next meeting.

This season, he hit 11 Home Runs, ranking second in the Western League farm division, and during today's Kochi camp, he repeatedly cleared the fence during long tee practice. With a goal of losing 8 kilograms from his 103-kilogram frame, he resumed his morning walks after the season ended, imitating Kotaro Kiyomiya of Nippon-Ham. 'It means nothing if I don't hit in the first squad,' he said, as he works on a physical transformation to seize a regular spot in his fifth year. He will push himself to the limit to grasp his dream. (Shunta Nambu)