The main thing is that since I haven't been doing nearly enough volume, I need to do an overwhelming amount of work and do it with great intensity. It's simply because I haven't been doing it.

Lotte's Tsuyoshi Yamasaki had vowed to do an "overwhelming" amount of work during autumn practice at Zozo Marine Stadium in October, and at the Miyakonojo autumn camp, he has been able to practice a large amount as promised, saying, "I think I'm doing more than ever before."

While saying, "As expected, it's tough after a long time. The time spent wearing spikes is long, and camp practice is long, so it's quite exhausting," he also expressed joy at being able to move and practice without restrictions, stating, "Of course, until now there were things I couldn't do because of the pain, but that pain has decreased somehow. It's not perfect, but the things I can do have increased tremendously, so I think that's a plus."

I feel like I need to build up enough muscle so that my knees get stronger and I stop feeling pain. However, I think I won't be able to make a full comeback unless I continue what I'm doing now—not just during camp, but throughout the off-season—with the mindset of not taking a single day off until February. I believe this off-season is going to be very important.

I wonder if that was to resolve the issue of playing while 'faking it,' as they mentioned during an interview in October, saying, 'I've been faking it, or rather, getting by, and although we're holding camp for the first time in three years...'

That's right, because I can't keep going by just faking it. In order to compete next year, it's not exactly like I'm starting from scratch, but I think this off-season will be the most important one yet, so I intend to give it my all.

Participated in outfield fungo drills

During this day's practice, he was taking fungo in the outfield with the outfielders instead of in the infield.

Of course, I will play wherever I am told to, but while I am not sure what the intention behind it is, being able to play the outfield will be a plus, and since you have to dive in the infield, I think that might be part of it as well.

In the farm league, he appeared as a left fielder in the game against the Rakuten Eagles second team on June 2nd and the Nippon-Ham second team on June 28th.

I would like to consider that as one of my options and compete wherever I am able to participate.

Regarding the next season, he expressed his determination, stating, 'The most important thing is to get my body in perfect condition so that I can move without any restrictions, pain, or the need to protect any specific part.'

Interview and text by Yuta Iwashita