Orix Buffaloes Yoshihisa Hirano Hirano (41), who also serves as a player and coach, has broken new ground with his new cutter. On the 23rd, he made his first appearance in live batting practice (batting practice in a real game setting) at the Miyazaki camp, and in 20 pitches, only two were hit. It was the first time he threw the new cutter to a hitter, and it even broke the bat of left-handed hitter Seymour. Hirano commented, "I was able to throw it in a good spot. I was hoping for a reaction, so I'm glad."

In his 20th year as a professional, he achieved 250 saves in his NPB career, but only appeared in three games for the first team. "When I was young, I was able to closer straight with one line, but I can't do it anymore closer. The ideal is a pitch that interweaves in cutter and the two seam fastball learned last season to hit ground balls. On this day, Moritomo who served as the catcher said, "I could see it straight, and it was a little bent at the end."

He is scheduled to play his first real game of the season on the 26th against Seibu Lions (SOKKEN). He is busy every day as a part-time coach, but he is very keen to make a comeback, saying, "As long as I'm pitching in the first team, I'll be allowed to play as a player." "You can't survive in this world unless you find something new. You have to break new ground." The oldest pitcher Pacific League who will turn 42 in March, has an inexhaustible desire to improve. (Nambu Shunta)