"I think I was able to do a lot of practice and practice on my own, so it was a very productive camp."

Lotte's Ryusei Ogawa worked hard on both offense and defense at the Miyakonojo spring training camp.

During last year's spring training camp in Ishigaki Island, he took practice batting practice sessions from coach Nemoto Shunichi at the second baseball field every day at short stop and second baseman base, and after finishing his special defense training he returned to the indoor practice field and silently swung his bat against a machine.

"I think that camp is a time to do a lot of things, so of course I want to do quality as well, but I just want to do a lot of things and get in shape," he said, remaining the same even though the location had changed to Miyakonojo.

After the team practice at Koala March Stadium, he said, "I'm thoroughly prepared for both and ready to play in either position," and this year he took batting practice at short stop and second baseman, just like he did at last year's spring training camp in Ishigaki Island.

"It's dirt, so it won't be much different, but at the secondary stadium in Miyakonojo, there's no back, so the view is different. In Ishigaki, we were playing at the secondary stadium, but we were able to play inside the stadium, so I think it will be good that we can play at the main stadium this time as well."

◆ Focus on hitting low, strong line drive drives

At the Pie no Mi Dome, participants practiced hitting against reinforced tees and machines.

While he focuses on hitting low, strong line drive drives, he also sometimes hits angled fly balls during batting practice.

"I've been making sure to move my head well, and although I'm not aiming for home run at this time of year, I think I need to use my head in a way that will allow me to hit home run, and I also need strength, so I'm incorporating that into my efforts."

During the Miyakonojo training camp, he used a black bat and did not use a torpedo bat. I wonder if he will continue to use the black bat in practice games and exhibition games.

"I think I'll stick with it. If it's okay, I'll stick with it. Last year I switched to a torpedo bat midway through the season, and I was able to adapt to the feel of the torpedo bat right away. I'm not using it right now, but if I don't get results with my current bat, I think there's a possibility I'll use a torpedo bat, so I'll keep an eye on the results and my condition as I go."

◆ Actively asking questions to temporary coach Matsui

Matsui Kazuo served as temporary coach from the 5th to the 11th, but it was Ogawa who actively asked questions about batting and defense.

"I don't have a sense for how to use my lower body or how to use my body to hit the ball, so I want to listen to the ins and outs of various coaches, not just Matsui Kazuo, but also Nishioka, and other coaches, to help me develop the sense of using my body and swinging with my feet. That's what I went to ask."

Perhaps he was asking about the "low, strong line drive hit" that Ogawa always talks about.

"Yes, I'm small and I don't have as much muscle as the other players, so I need to use my whole body to hit the ball, otherwise I won't be able to hit a strong ball, and I won't be able to deflect a fast or strong straight ball, so I try to be conscious of using 100% of my strength when hitting the ball."

He has learned defense from various coaches, including Matsui, who served as temporary coach this time. Is there anything they all have in common?

"No matter which coach I ask, they will always tell me to use my feet, so I think we have a lot in common. How we use our feet is a matter of intuition, so I'm sure there will be some differences in feeling, but ultimately it remains the same that we use our feet defense. I think that's something we have in common."

External matches will begin on the 14th. "I want to play in matches well and play well throughout the year, and get good results, so I'm going to focus on results starting from the exhibition games." During the Miyakonojo spring training camp, he boasted one of the highest levels of practice on the team. He hopes to show the results in actual games and earn a regular position this season.

Interview and text by Yuta Iwashita