Seibu Lions Lions pitcher Haruse Narita (19), a third-year high school graduate, entered bullpen at the Nango Camp on the 10th. He threw 37 pitches while former Seibu Lions manager and baseball commentator Hisanobu Watanabe (60), a senior colleague who wears number 41 uniform, watched from behind the net.

The dry sound of the mitt hitting the ground echoed through bullpen. Even the Leo fans were amazed by Narita's powerful fastball. They looked back with a satisfied expression on their faces as they threw 37 pitches with great enthusiasm.

"I felt like I was putting out more power than usual. I was able to put out a decent amount of power, and I think I was able to control it as well."

He joined the team as the fourth pick in the 2023 draft from Hirosaki Technical High School in Aomori. His fastest fastball is 156 km/h. He underwent neck surgery in his first year with the team, but has now fully recovered. Although he has never played in a first-team game, he was selected for the first-team training camp this spring.

number 41, Mr. Watanabe, who built an era as an ace of Leo, expressed his determination to "Gozen pitch" while looking at him, saying, "It's before I was born, so I don't really feel it, but I want to achieve results that are worthy of my number." "I hope I can aim to be a closer and appeal firmly," he said.

As he moves around the camp grounds, he is asked for autographs by many fans, and expectations are high. He will train under the sun of Nango and evolve into a great player who will suit The Lions' number 41. (Kato Hiroshi)