Hiroto Suga, a third-year developmental pitcher who was released by the Orix Buffaloes this off-season, will participate in the tryouts hosted by the Japan Professional baseball Players Association at Vantelin Dome on November 17, returning to the two-way player style he has not used since his time at Eimei High School in Kagawa.

I worked hard as a pitcher for three years, but I was unable to make it onto the registered roster. After being released, I realized that my batting is one of my weapons, so despite the gap in time, the desire to play as a fielder once again welled up within me. Suga, who had finished batting and defense practice with other players who had also received out-of-contract notices on a ground not being used by Orix Buffaloes players, spoke with sparkling eyes.

Suga is a left-handed pitcher from Kagawa Prefecture. At Eimei High School, he used his fastball and slider as weapons while also serving as a core outfielder, thriving as a two-way player and leading his team to consecutive appearances at Koshien in both the spring and summer of his third year. He is one year junior to outfielder Shogo Asano, who joined The Giants as a first-round draft pick from Takamatsu Commercial High School, but the two once formed a battery for Takamatsu Little Senior during their junior high school years.

In the first round of the 2023 summer Koshien, Chiben Gakuen (Nara) suffered a walk-off loss after a squeeze play was successfully executed in the 10th extra inning tie-break. In this game, outfielder Suga pitched four times, alternating with the right-handed ace. He was evaluated as a pitcher in the draft and was selected as the Orix Buffaloes' first developmental pick.

After turning professional, he focused on being a pitcher. His velocity did not increase in his first year, but from his second year, he used his 'straight-slider'—a deceptive pitch that cuts into the inside corner of right-handed hitters with the trajectory of a fastball—and his slider as weapons. He appeared in 7 games on the farm team with an ERA of 1.12. In his third year, he produced results with an ERA of 2.31 over 8 games.

During his three years focusing solely on being a pitcher, he admitted that deep down he still had feelings for being a hitter. 'I really wanted to do both, but when I joined the team, I was told it wasn't possible.' Now that he has been released, his desire to challenge the dream that never came true has grown stronger.

"Compared to high school, the pitchers' balls are faster, so I am working on batting practice while receiving advice from the fielders on hitting and various other things. Since I used to be a pitcher, I can understand different perspectives (such as strategies)," he said, suggesting that his three years as a pitcher have not gone to waste in terms of game tactics.

On October 5th, the day he received his release notice, Asano called him out of concern, asking, 'What are you going to do now?' At that time, he had not yet made up his mind to challenge himself as a hitter, and even now, he has not reported his two-way player status.

"My swing has gotten quite close to how it was during my best days in high school. Regarding outfield defense, I am working on how to approach fly balls, and since I used to have the form of a pitcher, my throws are also an area to improve. But it is fun. It is so much fun." He is 21 years old and in his third year since graduating high school. He will challenge the NPB once again with his original weapon, his batting.

Interview and text by Masaki Kitano