◆Pre-season game Softbank Hawks 1-3 Yakult (4th, Mizuho PayPay)

With two outs in the third inning, Softbank Hawks 's Tatsuru Yanagimachi hit his first solo home run over the right field fence. He has gained about six kilograms since last season and worked to increase his driving distance, and the results were evident in the game. "I've been focusing on combining my bigger body with my technique. Things are going well now that we're playing in a game format," he said with a smile. "Scoring a run with a long hit in a situation like that is very important for the team and for my own market value," he said with a smile.

In the pre-season games, he was used as leadoff hitter for three consecutive games, with three At Bat six at-hit and two Walk, for an on-base percentage of 60%. Manager Kokubo also commented, "We had him return to the cleanup position with runner on base. We're pleased with his high on-base percentage," and is expecting him to be placed in the top batting order as a chance maker after the season starts.

Last season, his sixth year, he seized the opportunity despite a series of injuries to key players from the start of the season, reaching the required number of at-bats for the first time. He won the title for highest on-base percentage, but in fact started in the second team for the second year in a row at the start of the season. He has never been in the starting starting line-up for the opening game of the season before. "I want to prepare so that I can have a good opening game this year, so that I don't have any regrets," he said with determination. This season, he wants to firmly secure a regular position in outfield from the start of the season.