On the 17th, Seibu Lions Lions left-handed pitcher Yamato Fuji (19), in his second year of development, vowed to aim to become the Sawamura Award pitcher in the future, in reference to number.

He joined the team as the first pick in the 2024 development draft from Omiya Higashi. From November to December of last year, he participated in the 2025 Asia Winter Baseball League held in Taiwan. He started in three games, pitching 15 1/3 innings with a league-ERA of 0.59 and second-highest strikeout strike out of 18, and this spring he will start his first time at the first-team camp in Miyazaki's Nango area.

On this day, he pitched in a batting practice session, allowing only one hit to 12 hitter, and expressed some satisfaction, saying, "It was my first time facing first-string players, but I was able to get some strikeouts and fouls with my fastballs, which gave me confidence." Manager Nishiguchi also praised him, saying, "He threw good balls last fall, too, so we expected as much. I think his pitching speed will improve once it gets a little warmer."

The number on his left arm is "123" for "Fuji-san". Although the kanji is slightly different, his surname is also "Fuji" and he has a connection with Mt. Fuji. His goal is not the highest mountain in Japan that surpasses Mt. Fuji, but the title given to the best pitcher player in Japan. My goal as a professional baseball player is to win the Sawamura Award, so I want to be the best pitcher in Japan. Of course, he has already planned the "climbing steps" to the top of the mountain: "First, I want to move up to the top ranks and make my first win appearance of the year. Next year, I want to be a member of the starting rotation. His eyes were looking straight ahead as he said this emphatically.