WBC warm-up match: Orix Buffaloes 8-3 Czech Republic (3rd, Sunmarine Miyazaki)

Orix Buffaloes Seiryu Kotajima pitcher strike out The right-hander, who underwent surgery to clean up his right elbow in September 2013, returned to action on March 3 in a training game against the Czech Republic (San Marin Miyazaki). After a 198-day absence mound since his last appearance on Aug. 17, the same year, against the Western Chunichi team in Nagoya, he said, "It's been a really long time since I pitched. I was able to pitch with a good sense of urgency.

After getting Escala to fly out to left in the top of the first, Playda followed with a fly out to center field. Finally, he closed out Menschik with three pitches that he missed struck out. My strength is the amount of straight hops I have. I was able to compete in the zone and get foul balls and fly outs. It was good that I was able to show that. He added, "I'm still not there yet. hitter If I don't move up one more level, I won't be able to closer make the first team. （I have one month left (until the season opener), so I need to work on that.

"I was involved with many different people leading up to the surgery. There were a lot of things that were frustrating me before the surgery, but now I think it was a really good time," Furutajima said, looking back on his rehabilitation period. "My elbow is doing fine. Now it's just a matter of technique. I think I need to produce results and build up trust again, so I want to become someone who is needed," he promised, promising a full recovery.