◆Pre-season game: Softbank Hawks 15-2 The Giants (11th, Mizuho PayPay)

Softbank Hawks overwhelmed The Giants with a powerful offense, racking up 12 hit 15 runs. infielder Hotaka Yamakawa, batting fourth and playing as the designated hitter, led the offense with 2 hit in 3 at-At Bat, including Home Run, and 4 RBI.

With a four-run lead and two outs in the second inning, he swung at a fastball from full count and drove it into the right-field bleachers for a three-run homer. It was his first arch in his 15th at bat in the open game, but he looked back on it with a nonchalant attitude, saying, "There is no judgment to be made based on today's home run.

There are about two weeks until the opening game. "My form is completely different from last year's exhibition games. I have the impression that this year is better," he said, as he is beginning to get a sense of accomplishment. "The impression when I'm standing and how I keep my distance. During camp I tried not lifting my feet too much and keeping them as small as possible. But in the last few games I've had the impression that my distance is better when I raise them," he said, as he continues to make trial and error as he prepares.