"I've reviewed my running form and worked on it."

During the offseason, Lotte's Hiromi Oka focused on "running" as part of his independent training.

At a press conference held on November 27 last year after renewing his contract, he said, "I want to improve not only my physical balance but also my batting. I want to focus on my swing speed and incorporate weight training, and I also want to train my running again. I want to re-evaluate my running, including how to run faster."

When asked why he wanted to review his running form, he explained, "I want to run again, and I injured my legs last year and the year before. I wanted to go faster, but I also wanted to reduce the strain on my legs, so I focused on improving my running."

In an exhibition game against Rakuten Eagles on February 21st, in the 7th inning with no outs and no runner on base, in his third at-bat, he hit the first pitch, cutter thrown by Ryuta Konno, to center fielder. Rakuten Eagles 's center fielder attempted a diving catch but failed catch. While Rakuten Eagles 's relay throw was fumbled, he sprinted home. The play was recorded as Home Run-the-park home run.

In the exhibition game against Nippon-Ham on March 8th, with the score 2-4 in the 5th inning with no outs and a runner on first base, he tagged up from first to second hit on a fly ball to left Ryusei Terachi by Ryusei Teraji. He then scored on center fielder by Akito Takabe. He has shown that he can run well on his feet as well.

When asked if he had been able to run the way he had hoped so far, he replied, "There are still areas where I need to improve," but added, "I think I'm moving in the right direction," suggesting that his efforts are paying off.

◆ Without wavering

In terms of hitting, he has been focusing on swing speed and line drive drives for the past few years, and he said that this will continue this offseason as well. "As I always say, I think it's always an ongoing challenge to make sure that pulled balls don't turn into ground balls," he continued.

In addition to what you've been working on so far, are there any other aspects you've been particularly meticulous about?

"I'm consciously working on things like reducing the ball's swing rate."

In an interview on March 13, he commented on his hitting, saying, "There are some things I'm satisfied with, but there are also areas where I still have a long way to go, so I want to continue to grow." It seems he has gained some confidence, but there are also aspects he is not entirely happy with.

◆ "I want to win"

Turning our attention to the team, with manager Saburo taking the helm, the team is undergoing a rejuvenation. In a team primarily composed of young players, Oka said, "The most important thing is to produce results," indicating that he first needs to achieve results himself, and then, as a veteran, he intends to play a supporting role for the team, saying, "I also want to create an environment where everyone can play comfortably, and if I am asked a question, I want to be able to answer it in my own way."

Looking ahead to this season, he said, "I want to win, and I want this to be a season where we can all share the joy of winning the championship, that's all." Hiromi Oka, in his 13th year as a professional and turning 35 this July, is still an indispensable presence for the team, not only as starting line-up, but also as a pinch hitter, pinch runner, defense substitute, and clutch player in crucial situations.

Interview and text by Yuta Iwashita