Lotte's Neftalí Soto has been appointed team captain this season.
Soto, who is in his third year since transferring to Lotte, has spoken more about the team than about himself since joining the team.
"I want to continue thinking and practicing in a way that will lead to the team's win, such as how to hit for the team and what to do in certain situations." (Interviewed June 26, 2012)
"It was a season with ups and downs for me and the team, but I'm not particularly dissatisfied with it and I think it was a good season. Our goal is ahead, so we want to do what we can to get there." (Interviewed October 7, 2012)
"Every player will do their best to win, so I hope that this year will be the same theme and that I can work hard with my teammates to win." (Interviewed on March 9, 2013)
"I may be the team leader in Home Run RBI and RBIs, but we're in last place and I haven't contributed anything to the team. We haven't made it to the Climax Series, so I'm not happy about being at the top. I'm here for the team." (Interviewed October 4, 2013)
This attitude has not changed since he was appointed team captain. "I know I always say the same thing, but I have to be well prepared. That's what I can do, so I want to focus on what I can do."
Even in previous seasons, he would offer advice to younger teammates, including Kazuya Ojima. Now that he's captain this season, how does he plan to lead the team?
"We have a team with a lot of young players and veterans, so if we all work together as one, and if we can become one as quickly as possible, I think we can move towards victory, so I would like to play that role."
As for Soto personally, he said that he "started batting practice earlier than usual" during the off-season leading up to this season. Last year, he arrived in Japan on February 20th and joined the team at the Itoman spring training camp on February 22nd, but this season he arrived in Japan on January 29th and joined the team from the first day of the Miyakonojo spring training camp.
In a training game against DeNA on February 14th, with the score tied at 1-1 and one out and a runner on third base in the sixth inning, he hit a timely single to center fielder field on the fourth pitch of a 141 km/h fastball thrown by Naoki Wakamatsu with one ball and two strike. Then, in his third at-bat in the seventh inning with the score tied at 5-1 and two outs and a runner on first base, he hit a two-run home run to right field on the first pitch thrown by Wakamatsu, a 138 km/ fastball. He also had two hit and one RBI in a training game against Hiroshima on the 18th, demonstrating his impressive performance. We hope he continues to improve his form as the season approaches.
Last season was a disappointing one for both the team and Soto. "I think the fans want to win, so we'll all do everything we can to aim for victory. I want to have a season that will make the fans happy." This season, in order to bring lots of smiles to The Marines fans, he will hit as many game-winning hits as possible to lead the team to win.
Interview and text by Yuta Iwashita
