"I'm incredibly nervous when I go up on stage. People around me say I don't seem that nervous, so maybe I don't look nervous. I think that's a good thing."

Lotte's second-round draft pick, Kaito Mori (Meiji University), remained calm and composed throughout the rookie joint training camp, and while he admitted to feeling nervous when taking the mound in exhibition games and practice matches, he remained just as composed.

Mori made his debut in an external game on February 17th in a practice game against The Giants. In the 6th inning with the score tied 3-3, Mori took the mound and retired Yuta Izumiguchi, who had the second-highest batting average in Central League last season at .301, with a 146 km/ fastball on his first pitch for a ground ball to the pitcher. He then retired Richard with a 145 km/ fastball on his first pitch for a ground ball to the pitcher, getting two outs in just two pitches. Finally, he retired Yu Aramaki with a 135 km/h slider on the fifth pitch after a 2-ball, 2-strike count for a ground ball to second base, ending his external game debut with just 7 pitches and one runs inning.

He made his first start in an exhibition game against Rakuten Eagles on March 5, closer runs for three innings. In his first appearance at his home stadium, Zozo Marine Stadium, Seibu Lions on March 13, he threw 67 pitches over four innings, allowing three hits, hit strike out, and giving up two runs.

◆ fastball on the inside corner to right-handed hitter

Watching Mori's pitch, his inside fastball to right-handed hitter batters is excellent.

Against Rakuten Eagles on March 5, 0-0 first inning without two outs runner, Voit from 2 ball 2 strike to the fifth pitch of the in-course 146 km fastball, the same day against Rakuten Eagles, 0-0 first inning, McCusker from 1 ball 2 strike to the fourth pitch, the in-course 142 km fastball, hit to center field , against Seibu Lions on March 13, 0 I liked the second pitch, an in-course 144 km fastball that I threw from 1 strike to the first Masayuki Kuwahara of the first inning of the -0 and missed strike.

right-handed hitter fastball I think I'm making good pitches, and I was getting some foul calls," he said, "but Seiya Watanabe hit me with home run a straight, in-course pitch, so I'd like to improve my accuracy and throw a stronger pitch. Seibu Lions In a 0-1 fourth-inning game against the Lions on March 13, with no outs runner and no outs, he reflected on a 142-kilometer, in-course fastball pitch he threw from 1 strike to Seiya Watanabe and hit a left home run lagoon.

right-handed hitter Along with the in-course of left-handed hitter, the out-course fastball of is also good, as was the out-course 144 km/h of the 5th pitch fastball that he threw from 3 balls 1 strike to Natsuo Takizawa with no outs runner in the 0-0 3rd inning against Seibu Lions on March 13, which he missed.

Overall, regarding fastball, he summarized by saying, "I think I'm throwing really good pitches. I hope to improve the sharpness of my pitches a bit more as the season progresses."

◆ change-up

breaking ball Rakuten Eagles Seibu Lions runner strike struck out In change-up, he had a good drop off. had a good drop off. had a good drop off. had a good drop off. had a good drop off. had a good drop off. had a good drop off. had a good drop off. had a good drop off. had a good drop off. had a good drop off. had a good drop off. had a good drop off. had a good drop off. had a good drop off. runner had a good drop off. had a good drop off. strike had a good drop off. struck out had a good drop off. change-up had a good drop off. change-up was a good fall from the strike zone to the ball zone.

Regarding change-up, he said, "It seems like the numbers are showing that it can get struck out, so I think I can throw it with confidence."

Furthermore, even when there are no runner on base, he occasionally mixes in quick pitches, saying, "If I keep throwing at the same timing all the time, I think it will be easier for the batter to time their pitches, so I use it hoping to throw them off even a little." He is constantly trying to disrupt hitter 's timing.

He analyzes that so far he has been able to throw the pitches he envisioned and do what he wanted to do, saying, "I've been able to compete in the strike zone properly."

"I think I'll get hit if I don't improve my accuracy even further, so I want to keep improving as I go." Mori is scheduled to start in the exhibition game against Chunichi on the 20th. It will be interesting to see what kind of pitch he shows on mound in what will likely be his last appearance of the exhibition games.

Interview and text by Yuta Iwashita