"I've gotten the hang of the practice routine, and now all that's left is to pitch in actual games, so I'm practicing hard right now with that in mind."

Lotte's first-round draft pick, Genki Ishigaki (Kenta Takasaki High School), spoke about his professional career so far since turning pro, saying:

Ishigaki participated in the Koshien for four consecutive seasons from the selection in the spring of 24 during his time at Kendai Takasaki High School, and was also selected for the U-18 Japan national team, contributing greatly to winning the silver medal. With a maximum speed of 158 km fastball, he was highly regarded as the No. 1 amateur before the draft. At the professional baseball draft meeting held on October 23 last year, Lotte received the first nomination from Lotte and Orix Buffaloes, and Lotte won the right to negotiate. number carries the "18" worn by "The Marines aces" such as Hideki Irabe and Naoyuki Shimizu.

During the spring training camp in Miyakonojo in February, he entered bullpen for the first time since turning professional on the 3rd, throwing 15 pitches with catcher standing. He entered bullpen bullpen the second time on the 6th of February, and again on the 11th of February, making a total of three bullpen during the Miyakonojo spring training camp.

Lotte's high school graduates generally didn't enter bullpen during the rookie joint voluntary training period, and even after spring training began, they often only entered bullpen for the first time after February 10. Roki Sasaki, who currently plays for the Dodgers, also threw 25 fastball pitches in his first bullpen since turning pro on February 13.

Compared to high school pitcher in recent years, Genki Ishigaki 's physique is already well-developed, which is probably why he was able to enter bullpen as early as February.

Coach Tomohiro Kuroki revealed in an interview during the spring training camp in Miyakonojo, "We are taking the players into bullpen based on their condition, and together with the coordinator, we are making judgments about whether they can handle this volume and number of pitches."

◆ fastball is his weapon

Genki Ishigaki is currently spending time at the farm team. "I'm quite thin, so I think the most important thing I need to do is build muscle," he says, as he works on getting into the physique necessary to compete professionally.

He said that his daily training schedule is "designed to build my body with the future in mind, so I think it will be gradual," indicating that he is building a foundation while visualizing himself competing in the first team in the future.

At the Miyakonojo spring training camp, Kazuya Ojima reached the required innings pitched the fifth consecutive year, and currently at Lotte Urawa Baseball Stadium Atsuki Taneichi, a member of the WBC Japan national team, is working up a sweat. "There are so many amazing pitcher who have been the opening day pitcher or been selected for Samurai Japan, so I hope I can learn from their good points and absorb their strengths," he said, having been greatly inspired by seeing his accomplished seniors up close.

Genki Ishigaki The biggest attraction of fastball. Last September 11, in the Super Round of the "Rugzas presents 32nd WBSC U18 baseball World Cup" against the USA, with one out bases loaded in the 8th inning of a 6-2 game, right-handed hitter Murphy's 154 km outside corner miss fastball on the first pitch he threw was very impressive. right-handed hitter When asked if the outside fastball corner of the ball was a pitch he was confident with, Genki Ishigaki he said emphatically, "Yes, the outside corner, or fastball is the ball I am most confident with, so I throw it with confidence.

What is your commitment to fastball- to hit fouls, to strike out, and so on?

"My main focus is on swinging my arm and throwing a powerful fastball."

At the announcement of new players on December 11 last year, he expressed his determination, "No Japanese has yet thrown 170 kg, so I want to be the first to do so and surprise the whole of Japan." As for what he needs to do to throw 160 or 170 kg fastball, he said, "I think the most important thing is to build my body. I think the most important thing is to build my body," he said.

"My goal is to become pitcher can closer opponents with just fastball, so I want to focus not only on speed but also on quality." Genki Ishigaki is expected to become not only the ace of The Marines but also the ace of the Japanese national team in the future. For that to happen, how he spends his time now is crucial.

Interview and text by Yuta Iwashita