◆Pre-season game Hiroshima 7-1 Nippon-Ham (22nd, Nago)

Nippon-Ham On April 22, Nao Miyanishi pitcher (40) pitched his first game of the season in the team's first open game against Hiroshima (Nago) and pitched one inning with no hit 1 strike out nothing runs. He responded to an irregular change-up grip that was different from the usual, which was advised by Masashi Yamamoto, 60, who served as a temporary coach at this camp. The iron arm, which boasts 900 plate appearances and ranks fourth all-time in the NPB, started his 19th year as a pro in top form with a weapon Shinjo named "Shukuryu.

He clenched his left fist and showed off his white teeth. Miyanishi slashed Hiroshima's Dora 1 Hirakawa, who entered the right-handed at-bat with two outs in the 7th inning, with a struck out swing and a perfect pitch in the first inning. After his first actual appearance of the season, he showed a satisfied expression, saying, "I was able to do everything I wanted to do today, and I think it was good that the result came out."

He embodied the teachings of a legend. In this camp, Masashi Yamamoto, who served as temporary coach, taught him the grip of the screw. Hirakawa, who slashed struck out at change-up, adapted the teachings in his own way. "The grip is a compound system of Mr. Masashi's. I've been able to use his advice," he said with a smile, satisfied with his evolved, decisive ball with a strong shooting component.

pitch There was also a discovery in the technique. Yamamoto advised me to "raise my elbow as well, because if I try to raise my zone, only my hands go up," in regards pitch to situations where count was unfavorable. He was the first to hit Tatsumi in the top of the inning count from 3-0 slider, and he got a miss strike and followed that up with a 138-kilogram straight ball that he threw up the middle. I had no confidence in it, but after trying it out, the ball is going where I want it to go. I think I've been able to get some really good stuff out of him. reliever For a left fielder who has pitched all his life, the words of a legend who pitched until he turned 50 as a starter were an eye-opener.

Manager Shinjo gave high praise to Change Up, saying, "He has a good arm swing, so hitter swings too." Proud of the results of Yamamoto's teachings, he named the new magic ball in his own unique style, saying, "It feels like a cross between a shoot and a screw? A shuckle?" Miyanishi said, "In terms of condition, it's great. He's always evolving." With a total of 900 appearances on the mound, the iron arm is further honing his skilled pitch. (Kawakami Haruki)