Lotte's Koshiro Wada stole a base in the game against Softbank Hawks on the 5th, his first stolen base in a first-team regular season since October 4, 2012, against Softbank Hawks.

Wada came in for Polanco, who hit hit a to right field with two outs runner none in the 3-4 8th inning. When he made a start on the third pitch from Ryusei Terachi one ball to one strike, it was ruled a touch out at second base, but Manager Saburo requested umpire a request from the group. The decision was overturned and he was safe, recording his first stolen base of the season.

◆ Last season, his opportunities to play as a pinch runner decreased.

Wada won stolen base title in 2021, and while he continued to attempt stolen base aggressively until 2022, he focused on improving his success rate in 2023, succeeding in 20 out of 21 stolen base opportunities, and in 2024, succeeding in all 11 stolen base stolen base opportunities. stolen base success rate improved, and he achieved double-digit stolen base for five consecutive years from 2020, when he was registered as a professional player, to 2024. However, last season, he played in only 17 games, his worst performance since being registered as a professional player, and ended up with zero stolen base.

It wasn't all bad. "My physical condition and state of being different every day, and I think it was good that I was able to think about those things when I stepped up to the plate." He had mostly appeared as a pinch runner since his days as a developmental player, and until 2024, his highest number of plate appearances in a season, including both the first and second teams, was 231 in 2023. However, last season he had a career-high 272 plate appearances in both the first and second teams, and was able to gain practical batting experience through trial and error.

Last season, he had many at-bats in the minor leagues, but his opportunities as a pinch runner decreased. Based on his past experiences, has he changed anything in his preparation for pinch-running this season?

"There's nothing in particular, but I didn't do much pinch-running last year, so I guess you could say I'm a bit out of practice."

Despite those anxieties, he successfully stolen base in his first appearance of the season against Softbank Hawks on the 5th. Although he wasn't able to score in that game, he's expected stolen base bases in tense situations late in the game, score a run on a single hit, and score on infield ground balls when there's a runner on third base. "If there's a runner on third base, I have to score a run on an infield ground ball, so in that sense I try to take a lead that brings me as close to home plate as possible, and I'm trying to be creative in that regard."

When asked if there were any specific numbers he was particularly focused on, such as stolen base bases or runs scored, he humbly replied, "I think the opposing team will be marking me more closely, so I just want to keep building up my numbers one by one."

In crucial moments where every point counts, Wada's speed is a major asset for the team. "The closer the score, the more opportunities I'll get to play, so I want to deliver results in the role I'm given." As a professional, he aims to be a starting line-up, but for now, he's focused on fulfilling the role the team needs him to play.

Interview and text by Yuta Iwashita