Softbank Hawks Hawks pitcher Yugo Maeda (20) threw 31 pitches in bullpen on the first day of spring training in Miyazaki on the 1st. The left-hander, who joined the team as the first overall pick in the 2023 draft from Osaka Toin High School, is starting with the A-team (first team) for the first time in his third year with the team. "It felt good for the first day. I'm not throwing high pitches anymore. I have the feeling that I'm hitting the ball well," he said, showing a smooth start towards making the opening day rotation.

For the second year in a row, he has been apprenticed under Mets pitcher Senga, and has been working on improving his pitching form through joint training sessions in the United States, Okinawa, and other locations. He has been learning how to use his left foot, his pivot foot, and is focusing on "pushing the ground and applying pressure" when pitching. He is currently working on solidifying his pitching form.

Arihara, who has had the most wins for two consecutive years, has been transferred to Nippon-Ham, and this is a big opportunity for young players such as Maeda Yu. Manager Kokubo also feels that he has grown, saying, "I watched him running during warm-ups and thought he had gotten a lot tougher." He marked his first professional win last season, and is expected to make even greater strides this year. (Shimao Koichiro)