[Rakuten Eagles] Hikaru Ito starting line-up in first exhibition game since transfer: "If we can expand the range of pitcher pitchers, we will become a better team and a better battery." | Pacific League

[Rakuten Eagles] Hikaru Ito is the catcher in the starting starting line-up for the first exhibition game since his transfer. "If we can increase the range of pitcher, we will become a better team and a better battery."

Sports Hochi

March 12, 2026 16:58

Naoto Naoto Nishiguchi (right) and Hikaru Ito (left, camera: Tomomi Watanabe) exchange touches after pitching the first inning.

◆Pre-season Rakuten Eagles 1-2 Nippon-Ham (12th, Shizuoka)

Hikaru Ito catcher, who joined Rakuten Eagles from DeNA as an FA member, wore starting line-up a mask in an open game for the first time since his transfer.

Nishiguchi, who started, threw 34 pitches to seven hitter in the first inning, giving up two runs, but the 36-year-old veteran gave him advice to "use breaking ball a little better." He recovered by striking out all three batters in the second through fourth innings, and said calmly, "I've had a lot of different experiences, so I wish I could have used breaking ball a little better today. I think that if we can expand the repertoire of our pitcher, we can become a better team and a better battery."