On the 21st, Softbank Hawks pitcher Tomohisa Ozeki took the mound for the batting practice session for Group A of the Miyazaki training camp, throwing 40 pitches to four hitter, including Akihiro. In 2013, the team won the title for the highest winning percentage with 13 wins and 5 losses. Manager Kokubo Hiroki, who watched the game, expressed his immense confidence in Ozeki, saying, "Ozeki is guaranteed to be in the opening rotation, so he's in the rotation no matter what his condition is. Injuries are a different matter, though." He expressed his hopes for him to be a key part of the starting rotation.