Akihiko Oya and Akio Saito, who appeared on "Professional baseball News 2026" broadcast on Fuji TV ONE on the 2nd, mentioned Nippon-Ham-Ham Fighters' Kota Tatsu.
Oya expressed his expectations, saying, "Until last year, it was just a matter of working hard on his own, but this year I think he will develop a sense of responsibility to become a valuable asset to the team. It's going to be a really exciting season."
Saito, on the other hand, gave his stamp of approval, saying, "I watched pitch practice at camp, and although he's a bit tall, he's powerful. fastball is fast and fork has a sharp drop. I thought he was fun to watch. I think he'll have double-digit wins this season."
Last season, his fourth year as a pro, saw him pitch 107 2/3 innings in 16 games, finishing with 8 wins and 2 losses and ERA of 2.09, a breakthrough year for him. This season, he is expected to play a key role as a starter alongside Hiromi Ito, Kohei Arihara, and Koki Kitayama.
☆ Cooperation: Fuji TV ONE "Professional baseball News 2026"
![[Nippon-Ham] First-round development pick Takuya Tokitani and fourth-round draft pick Minami Handa make their exhibition game debut. Handa says, "I was happy to have fun playing."](https://hochi.news/images/2026/03/05/20260305-OHT1I51505-L.jpg)
![[Nippon-Ham] First-round development pick Takuya Tokitani and fourth-round draft pick Minami Handa will form a rookie shortstop/third base combination. They will join the first team and make their first appearance in an exhibition game.](https://hochi.news/images/2026/03/05/20260305-OHT1I51463-L.jpg)
