"It's tough, but I think I'm managing somehow."

Lotte's Shinya Matsuishi, the only development player participating in the Miyakonojo spring training camp, reflected on the first training camp as follows.

In an interview on January 18 before the announcement of the camp members, he said, "I regret it, or it may not be perfect, but defense I hope I can move my body even if I decide to hit or run." "I wanted to appeal to defense, but I think batting is everything," he said, aiming to appeal in both offense and defense, and worked on practice.

At last year's Miyakonojo autumn camp, although the team was mainly made up of young players, he practiced with infielder such as Ryusei Ogawa and Atsuki Tomosugi, who play on the first team. Looking back, he said, "The atmosphere itself felt the same because I'm always shouting, but the practice was extremely tough."

Even during the spring first-team camp, he said, "There is a difference in level, but I don't think I'm having trouble keeping up."

Last season, he struggled with timing, but finally found something at the end of fall training camp. During his voluntary training, he said, "I've been doing it consistently without changing anything, so I'm wondering how it will go when I try it in the spring," and swung the bat, determined to make it his own.

So far in spring training, he has not faced any pitcher, but during batting practice he said, "I haven't faced pitcher yet, so I'll just have to try it in a real game," and he continues to feel good about his performance, saying, "I don't think (the feeling) is bad."

Not only can he hit, but his bunting skills, which tied him for third in the league with 12 sacrifice bunt last season, will also be a factor in his appeal. "I don't know for sure because I've only ever used a machine to bunt, but I think I'm pretty good at it with a machine," he said. He is carefully practicing bunting against a machine so that he can make solid decisions when strategy-based practice begins.

His biggest weapon, short stop defense, is a wide The Giants range and strong shoulder, which he used in the farm game last August 3, when he jumped in and quickly got up second base to first base throw and made an out on Urada's center fielder hit that looked like it would go right in front of him with no outs runner in the 2-5 6th inning, and again on September 26, The Giants in an 0-6 5th inning game at the top of the 2nd inning. center fielder second base throw He also made an out in a 0-6 game in the fifth inning catch against the second team on September 26, using his wide defense range and strong shoulders to defend the ball.

When asked if he was able to practice defense with confidence even during the first-team spring training camp, he revealed his challenges, saying, "I'm not confident, but I think I'm doing well. Players like Tomosugi are good, so I think I still have a long way to go compared to them."

Mr. Matsui, who was also active in the majors during his active career, will serve as temporary coach starting with the second coaching session. Matsui's main field of work was short stop during his active career. Matsuishi said, "I would like to hear about both defense and hitting. I don't have any specific questions, but I would like to ask him about his way of thinking, his way of getting into the game at defense, and what kind of awareness he had.

If he can make his presence felt at the spring training camp and be selected to participate in the practice match on Okinawa Island, he will have a greater chance to make an impression. "The most important thing is to get results, so I think it would be good if I could just focus on results." In his third year as a development player, he is making the most of every day in order to get results.

Interview and text by Yuta Iwashita