Open game Nippon-Ham and Lotte (7th, Escond)

Nippon-Ham 's draft No. 1 Jiei Okawa pitcher (22) = Meiji University = made a grand "Escon debut". He took the mound from the 8th inning of 5-3 and completed the first inning pitch. Matsukawa in the lead was a ground ball with a cutter, Tomosugi flew to the right with a change-up, and Yamamoto took a swing struck out with a fastball of 151 km, the fastest of the day.

In his first professional game appearance on February 14th in an intrasquad game in Nago, Okinawa, he gave up doble to Kiyomiya Yuki down the left field line, giving up two hit and one runs in the first inning. Manager Shinjo praised his quick pitches, saying, "I liked the quick pitches when there were runner on base, and the balls he threw in a set position. They make it difficult for the batter to hit. His quick pitches are top-level."