Nippon-Ham pitcher Mizuki Hori (28) announced on the 12th his graduation from the 'Miyanishi Group.' From his fourth year with the team until this year, he had conducted joint independent training in January with Miyanishi in Hyogo Prefecture for seven consecutive years. However, since Miyanishi will serve as a player-coach starting next season, Hori went to consult his mentor and was told, 'I was told that you are now standing on your own.' As a result, he will not conduct joint training next season and will instead re-examine himself independently.

For the next season, he plans to conduct his independent training primarily at the minor league facilities in Kamagaya, Chiba. Until now, he has built his foundation for the year by pushing his body to the limit alongside the 'Iron Man' pitcher who made 908 career appearances, engaging in early morning walks and intense running sessions to the point of collapse. He revealed that his mentor has been putting pressure on him, saying, 'If you show up to camp completely exhausted, I'll know you've been working hard.' He added, 'I understand the frequency and intensity of the running for each cycle, so I hope to push myself properly even on my own.' By utilizing the know-how he learned firsthand from the veteran pitcher, he intends to arrive at camp in perfect condition.

This season, he significantly increased his numbers from just two appearances last year to 19 holds and a 2.60 ERA across 43 appearances, establishing his presence as a key part of the winning formula. 'With all the technical data available now, I still believe that fundamentally, you can't complete a full season if you can't run. That is something I have felt deeply through my independent training. To put it simply, it's old-school. Running until you're exhausted and pushing yourself to the limit. Rather than focusing on technique, it's about running and pushing the body, which is something you can only do during the off-season. I want to carry on that tradition while also showing my own style.' The 28-year-old, who inherits the lineage of the legendary left-hander, has become independent and will continue to support the bullpen.

Mizuki Hori. Born May 10, 1998, in Kure City, Hiroshima. 28 years old. At Hiroshima Shinjo High School, he was on the bench starting from the summer of his first year. In the Koshien during the summer of his third year, he earned two wins and led the team to its first top-16 finish. He joined Nippon-Ham as the first-round draft pick in 2016. In 2021, he won the best reliever award with 60 appearances and 39 hold. 177 cm, 91 kg. Left-handed pitcher and batter. His estimated salary for this season is 28 million yen. Married.