Nippon-Ham pitcher Kota Tatsu (21) entered bullpen on the first day of training camp on the 1st and threw 62 pitches. "It was good. I was able to throw well into the zone. change-up hasn't been going so well recently, but today I was able to throw into the zone with that power, so I feel more at ease," he reflected.

He also tried out a new slider that curves more like slider, saying, "I practiced sweepers during the off-season. I wasn't throwing it with the intention of throwing a sweeper, but it feels like slider curves more now." He seemed pleased with his new approach.