At Lotte's Miyakonojo spring training camp on the 10th, four pitcher Koshiro Sakamoto, Shota Suzuki, Shuta Takano, and Hayato Miyazaki.

Koshiro Sakamoto mainly pitched fastball and slider, but on this day he threw change-up as the fifth pitch of the first set to Kodai Inoue, who missed the ball. It's a pitch he hasn't thrown much up until now, but is he planning to start using it this year?

"Yes, I think the more pitches I have, the better, and I feel like I'm throwing it with good accuracy in bullpen, so I'm doing it." Incidentally, he plans to start throwing change-up to left-right-handed hitter as well as left-handed hitter. With actual games starting soon, when I asked if it was okay to write an article about him starting to throw change-up, he said, "You're free to write about it," and I received permission.

After throwing change-up, he analyzed himself and said, "There were times when it was a bit of a hook, but the accuracy of the final change-up against Inoue has improved even in bullpen." He continued, "In my case, I have a fastball and slider, so if I can increase the proportion of splitter change-up compared to last year and previous seasons, I think the range of pitch will expand."

◆ Yagi pitches in the live BP: "The pitches were good"

Among the four left-handed pitcher who pitched in the live BP, Akira Yagi was the only right-handed pitcher to pitch in the live BP, and he also threw a curveball, which he rarely threw last season.

"Maybe relief pitchers don't need to reliever of their pitches, but I only have the image of a fastball and fork, so if there's one pitch that a batter doesn't have in mind, I think it would be frustrating, so that's what I'm working on," he explained his intentions.

Yagi had a good impression of fork, which is his weapon, saying, "It felt really good.He swung and missed at the pitch I was trying to get a strikeout from, so I think that was really good."

Regarding the pitch itself at the live BP, he said, "I'm always doing (spring camp) on Ishigaki (island), and while my body is moving and the ball speed is getting faster, it's the first time I've done it in such a cold place. It's cold, so I can't say anything, but it was good from a ball point of view."

◆ Tomosugi reflects on failed bunt

Atsuki Tomosugi who faced pitcher for the first time this season, said, "I had been practicing hitting the ball even when it was close, so the timing was a bit off, but I think I hit it well," as he hit the first pitch thrown by Hayato Miyazaki, a 147 km/h fastball down the right field line.

Although he failed on his first bunt attempt, he was successful twice out of three attempts. "You have to make the small moves. I made a mistake the first time, but I didn't let it get to me and made two more, so I think it was good," he reflected, but seemed relieved that he made two more after that.

◆ Terachi: "About 75 points"

Ryusei Terachi, who has been getting a quick start at batting during this camp, also stepped up to bat against pitcher for the first time this season and said, "The results were surprisingly good for me, I'd give it about a 75."

On the fourth pitch of the second set, he hit it to left-center field, but unfortunately it was caught by center fielder Akito Takabe, but it was a strong hit in the opposite direction from center fielder. Teraji himself said, "That was good, but I think if I had pushed it a little harder it would have gone over, so I think that's something I need to reflect on."

On the first pitch of the second set, Shota Suzuki threw an inside breaking ball, and Teraji hit it with one hand to the right fielder, which was also a good move. "It was a low breaking ball, a little close to my body, so I think I was able to react well," Teraji said with a satisfied look on his face.

He started earlier than last year and reflected, "I started earlier than last year, and although I still hadn't quite got the hang of it, I think it was the second ball (of the first set) that I was able to get a good hit and hit it well, which was good."

In order to improve his condition from here, Teraji spoke about his future challenges, saying, "The start feels good, so I'll continue to keep at it, and I just need to work on my batting and handling the inside pitches a little more. (The third ball of the second set) I think the ball that went to first baseman base was a bit of a ball, but by shifting my weight firmly without letting go of my left hand, I was able to turn around on the spot and hit it in front of right field, so it doesn't have to go into fair field, so I'd like to continue working on that, including practicing."

Interview and text by Yuta Iwashita