Orix Buffaloes 's new foreign player, pitcher Sean Hjelle (28) – formerly of the Giants – has given off the impression of being a "superstar." The 213cm right-hander, the tallest player in Major League history, held his introductory press conference at the team's training camp in Miyazaki on the 7th. Touching the ceiling, he smiled and said, "I can change light bulbs!", successfully making an extraordinary first impression.

"I'm tall and can disrupt opponents at the release point. I want to use that as a weapon." Until 2025, his official height was 211 cm, but he "corrected" it, saying, "If only my height would stop growing properly... (laughs). My actual height is 213 cm." He said he is often asked how to grow taller, to which he replied with a wry smile, "I don't really know... Maybe the water I was drinking was wrong." He also revealed that his father, who is shorter than him, jokingly calls him "Shorty (shorty)."

After arriving in Japan on the 6th, he tried to take a shower at his hotel, but his large body wouldn't fit in the room. "I have to sit down..." he said, scratching his head and imagining future "crisis management" measures, saying, "I'll ask my trainer to prepare helmet (laughs)." His shoe size is 34cm. Naturally, he couldn't buy anything in Japan, including his clothes, so he joked, "I brought a year's worth."

He worked up a sweat playing catch and other exercises that day, and is scheduled to enter bullpen for the first time on the 10th. Manager Kishida was in awe, saying, "I was surprised. It was the first time in my life that I'd met such a big guy," but he still had high hopes for him as a candidate for the starting rotation. He regularly throws a fastball over 150 km/h, and also has a variety of breaking ball, including sinker, cutter, and change-up. "Big Jerry" will be standing tall on mound. (Nambu Shunta)