Orix Buffaloes Buffaloes pitcher Kosei Yoshida (25) gave an exclusive interview to Sports Hochi, promising a "big comeback" in 2026. In March 2025, he underwent ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction surgery (commonly known as Tommy John surgery) and arthroscopic olecranon spur removal surgery, resulting in his seventh professional season without a single appearance in the first team. He reflected on his rigorous rehabilitation and spoke about his feelings for his hometown of Akita. He will return to competitive play in the intrasquad game on the 21st. This will be Yoshida's first appearance on mound in a game in 511 days, since the game against Rakuten Eagles on September 28, 2024 (Rakuten Eagles Mobile). (Interview and composition by Shunta Nanbu and Toru Nagata)

It was his first surgery.

"Should I go with conservative treatment, or have surgery and make it in time for 2026? I was forced to make a last-minute choice. It was during training camp about a year ago. In bullpen, I threw as hard as I could, thinking, 'I don't care if I tear a ligament.' At that moment, I thought, 'Oh, I can't do this...' The pain was so severe that I broke out into a cold sweat. I hadn't had a history of serious injuries, so it didn't seem real. I was thinking, 'Surgery...'"

-Do you need time to sort out your feelings?

"But that didn't happen. I decided to take it easy until the surgery and eat what I liked. I went to a sushi restaurant, or if I got hungry I'd binge eat at McDonald's. I would never do that if I was on the first team (laughs). My weight also went up to 95kg. For three months after the surgery I ate about one kilogram of white rice a day, and I gained weight. But now I'm at 86kg."

-The hardships were never-ending.

"I'm the type of person who goes all out, so there are quite a few walls that I can't break... It was tough that my upper limit of pitching speed only increased little by little, and doing the same thing every day. Even washing my body was difficult with the cast on. I had to wash my head without getting my right arm wet, and wash my back by rubbing it against a scrubbing towel against the wall. I even used chopsticks with my left hand. It was extremely tiring."

-I had my own rules.

"Each month I set a goal I wanted to achieve and rated it as 'good,' 'average,' or 'bad.' For example, if I decided to 'throw 130 km/h,' that month would be 'good,' and if I still had some energy left, it would be 'good.' I've basically been able to get this far at a 'good' pace. I also decided not to cut my hair until I made a comeback. The length of my bangs became an hourglass-like indicator."

- I overcame the tough times every day.

"After the surgery, my right arm was 5 centimeters thinner than my left, but now my right arm is actually thicker. My pitching speed has increased to 143 kilometers per hour. It's been two years since I've been able to practice pitcher-catcher coordination. During training camp, I feel like I did when I was a child with sparkling eyes, thinking, 'baseball really is fun.'"

-He will make his return to action for the first time in 511 days in the Red vs. White game on the 21st.

"In a match, I can increase my pitching speed and improve my game. I want to use this as a good opportunity to prepare for the opening game."

-A game Rakuten Eagles is scheduled for September 1st in his hometown of Akita.

"There's a good chance I'll be fully recovered by then. Satoshi Nakajima (SD), a senior athlete from my hometown, told me, 'This is a good time to be here' (laughs). There were people in Akita who were worried about me and sent me lots of meat and fish. Nozomi Sasaki from the Akita Prefectural Association told me, 'I want to go see it!' I also received an email from Toshiro Yanagiba saying, 'This is the year of your comeback!' I want to show everyone that I'm in good health."

—What is your vision for pitcher of the future?

"Before I go to sleep, I often imagine myself as an evolved player. The place is Kyocera Dome. I imagine myself consistently throwing the best ball I have ever thrown in my life, at 150 km/h. I want to use this surgery as an opportunity to live a completely different life as a professional baseball than before. To that end, I will now do my best in the position I have been given."

◆Yoshida Kosei Born January 12, 2001 in Akita City. Age 25. In the summer of 2018, as a third-year student at Kanazawa Nono High School, he pitched complete game games in 10 consecutive games, from the Akita tournament to Koshien semi-finals. Although he lost to Osaka Toin High School in the final, he sparked a "Kanazawa Nono whirlwind." He joined Nippon-Ham as the first draft pick that same year. In November 2011, he was traded to Orix Buffaloes in exchange for Kuroki (currently Seibu Lions). His career record is 7 wins, 9 losses, 19 hold, and ERA 5.39 in 114 games. He is 175 cm tall and weighs 83 kg. He bats and throws right-handed. Single. Annual salary: 28 million yen.