Nippon-Ham 's new foreign players, pitcher Saurin Lao and infielder Rodolfo Castro, joined the team's first-team camp in Nago, Okinawa on the 7th and held a press conference.

Lao, who turned professional as fielder and only recently switched to pitcher in 2011, smiled and said, "This is my first time in Japan, but I've been interested in Japanese culture since I played with Japanese people in America. I'd like to learn as much as I can."

He said that he became interested in meditation after playing alongside Yamamoto, Fujinami, and Ogasawara in the majors. "I listened to their preparations and way of thinking, and I was impressed by the way the Japanese players approach the game, and I thought that if I could adopt that kind of mindset, I could take the next step. It calms the body and mind and prepares the mind to be able to concentrate on the game. I believe that baseball is 99% mental, so by getting your mind in order, you can perform at your best in games," he said.

Castro, a utility player who can play both infield and outfield positions, including second base and shortstop, said, "I've been looking forward to this day, so I'm happy to finally be able to join the team and meet the staff and teammates." Known for his energetic play, he added, "I'm confident in my batting, and I think I can do well defense as well. I try to be competitive every day and give 100%, so I hope people will watch out for that."