catcher Yuya Gunji (28), who has been selected to be the opening day No. 4 hitter and third baseman for Nippon-Ham Fighters, responded to manager Shinjo's "No. 4 batting quota" on the 1st. He began training camp in Nago, Okinawa. The day before, the manager urged him, saying, "You haven't hit .280 (batting average) in 30 games, so maybe we should demote you to the second team." "He's like a boss, and he always sets great goals for me. He knows that if he gives me a goal that I have to stretch a little, it will motivate me to achieve it," Gunji said, not forgetting to offer his characteristically sharp observation: "What would happen if I hit walk-off home run the day before (in the 29th game) and ended up with a .279 batting average?"

On this day, he showed off his new game uniform with number 3 for the first time. He took part in some batting practice at third base and batting practice, and commented with renewed enthusiasm, "I think it was a good impression, considering that the other players around me were not wearing (game) uniforms at all."

This season's slogan is "DOMI!", which means to overwhelm. "To dominate, the No. 4 hitter must leave the most overwhelming results. I want to be able to dominate all opponents from the start of the season." He has cleared this exquisite quota and is on the path to becoming a true No. 4 hitter. (Haruki Kawakami)