Nippon-Ham' fifth-round draft pick, catcher Kaito Kaito Fujimori (Meitoku Gijuku High School), participated in the first-team practice for the third consecutive day on the 23rd. In practice before the exhibition game against Hanshin Tigers (in Nago), he entered bullpen and received pitches from pitcher Fukuya Yamazaki.

On the 22nd, in the match against Hiroshima (Nago), Fujimori became the first high school graduate rookie to hit hit run in the team's first exhibition game since Sho Nakata in 2008. He has made his presence felt with the bat, hit in three consecutive games. As catcher, he still has a long way to go, but with battery coach Yamada watching, he got to experience the balls of the main pitcher.

Yamazaki, who was paired with him for the first time, threw 40 pitches, including breaking ball. "I felt like I was pitching with a solid feel, and I was pitching without any strange thoughts at all," he said.