◆Exhibition game Orix Buffaloes 2-1 Hiroshima (March 17, Kyocera Dome Osaka)

Orix Buffaloes 's new foreign pitcher, Sean Jerry (28), formerly of the Giants, has virtually secured a spot in the opening day rotation. In his second appearance at Kyocera Dome, he pitched five scoreless innings, runs only three hit. "I focused solely on pitching long inning, and I was able to do that," he said with a satisfied expression.

The 213cm right-handed pitcher is the tallest player with major league experience in history. On the 16th, when the team had a day off, he witnessed Japan's "big" firsthand. He watched the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament for the first time, something he had always been interested in, and confessed that it was the most exciting thing that had happened to him since coming to Japan. "I was able to see up close the amazing physical abilities of a different kind (than baseball players). I was impressed that someone so big could move like that." "The sumo stomping? I didn't do it (laughs). I was rooting for a sumo wrestler from Osaka, and his stomping was incredible," he said with a smile.

In the preseason games, he has been incredibly consistent, winning all three games and pitching a total of 12 innings with zero earned runs. He is sure to be a part of the rotation. "It's an honor to be expected to be a starter. My role is to contribute to the team's win, so I want to pitch with all my might," he said, full of enthusiasm. "Big Jerry" will be the savior for the team to reclaim the championship after three years. (Shunta Nanbu)