◆ Pacific League Softbank Hawks 6-4 Nippon-Ham (28th, Mizuho PayPay Stadium)

Nippon-Ham pitcher Kota Tatsu (22) made his first start of the season on the 28th against Softbank Hawks Hawks (at Mizuho PayPay Dome), but suffered his first loss of the season, giving up 6 hit 5 runs in 4 2/3 innings. The next-generation ace candidate who had a breakout season last year with 8 wins contributed an exclusive essay to Sports Hochi, in which he candidly spoke about his efforts during his offseason training in the United States for the second consecutive year, and his strong feelings about this season, his fifth as a professional.

I started my fifth year as a professional. It was mound the second game of the season opener, but I was able to enter the game in good shape because I had prepared early with various assumptions from the camp. However, because I had not been scored on in the open game, I had a different feeling when I was hit by a pitch, which was the result I feared the most (from my actual pitching in camp, I pitched 21 2/3 innings in a total of 6 games including 3 starts in the open game and an appearance in the education league runs, ERA 0.00). I am filled with regret that I was entrusted with such an important game, but I strongly believe that I must make use of this experience in my next pitching appearance.

Last December, I trained in Arizona, USA, for the second year in a row. I spent about three weeks at a world-class training and recovery facility called Driveline, and had a very productive time. One of the reasons I train in the US is that there are many players with similar physiques to mine, and there is plenty of material to compare myself to. It's appealing to be able to compare myself to top-class Major League players that I look up to regularly, such as Pirates' Skeens.

Compared to my pitch form from two years ago, the overall metrics such as rotational speed and translational speed have improved, and I can really feel that I've grown. It's one step at a time, but I'm getting closer to my ideal form, so I plan to continue making minor adjustments to find the best possible form going forward.

People around me sometimes say it's amazing that I went to the US at my own expense in my early twenties. In fact, it cost me about 3 million yen this time. However, I don't feel like I'm doing anything special. In my view, players are an investment from the team. I see the salary I receive from the team as an investment in me. I believe I should use that investment to the fullest extent to perform at my best. Of course, it's important to relax and enrich my private life, but I want to continue to focus on how I can grow as a person.

My goal for this season is to stay in the rotation for the entire year, start more than 25 games, and get 16 wins, the same as number. Above all, I want to pitch my best throughout the year without getting injured so that I can contribute to winning the championship. To all our readers, thank you for your continued enthusiastic support this season. (Tatsu Kota)

◆Kota Tatsu: Born March 27, 2004, in Osaka Prefecture. Age 22. Started playing baseball in the 4th grade of elementary school, and played for Senshu Sakai Boys in junior high school. Reached the semi-finals of the Spring Koshien Tournament in his third year at Tenri High School. Drafted first overall by Nippon-Ham in 2021. 194 cm, 101 kg. Right-handed pitcher and batter. Estimated annual salary this season: 42 million yen.