On the 11th, Softbank Hawks Hawks President Sadaharu Oh praised Kensuke Kondo 's batting during a live batting practice (batting practice in a game-like setting) at their Miyazaki training camp. Kondo is currently working on a new form, one that involves keeping his knees less bent and holding the bat higher than last season. In his first at-bat in a game-like setting, against Taiwanese player Hsu Ruoxi, the WBC representative, Kondo hit a brilliant hit to center field. Oh exclaimed, "He's really different. He's got the technique." Regarding Kondo's new form, Oh praised him, saying, "I'm just changing it based on my own thoughts, hoping to make it better. There's a good reason. It's not just a change. He's doing it to reach higher heights. When you become a skilled player, the desire to improve naturally comes out."

Manager Hiroki Kokubo has always warned reporters about Kondo's batting, saying, "Don't ask me, it's on a different level." He once again took his hat off to the genius hitter who is working on a new form, saying, "Even though he's won so many titles, the best players aren't afraid of change."