"I have a strong desire to get results at bat and play in the game until the very end."

During spring training in Miyakonojo, Lotte's Atsuki Tomosugi expressed his determination to play in every game from start to finish this season without being substituted mid-game. Since the game Rakuten Eagles on April 19th, he has played in all six consecutive games he has started.

One of the contributing factors is his strong batting performance. He has reached base in seven consecutive games since getting hit as a pinch hitter in the game Rakuten Eagles on April 18th. He recorded multiple hit in the game against starting line-up on April 28th, where he started as the "number 7 hitter and short stop," and then got two hit Rakuten Eagles Rakuten Eagles following day, April 29th, off Kenta Maeda who returned to Japanese baseball after 11 years. He is currently batting .340, showing excellent hitting form.

When asked what kind of batting average he wanted to achieve at the Miyakonojo spring training camp, he said, "If you look at it in terms of batting average, you'll go up and down, so I want to aim for around 100 hits," setting his sights on accumulating hit rather than batting average.

◆ Hitting performance from last fall until now

During the autumn practice held at Zozo Marine Stadium last year, Tomosugi said, "I already lift my leg high, but I'm consciously trying to lift it earlier so that I can use it for a longer time," indicating that he was keeping his left leg raised for a longer period of time than during the season.

He explained the reason, saying, "Originally, when I can take my time (with the timing) for a long time, that's when I'm in good form, so right now I'm deliberately lifting my left leg earlier to make it longer." He added that he continued this approach at the Miyakonojo autumn camp, saying, "I continued to hit with a long timing, and I also made sure that my center of gravity didn't move forward and that my head didn't move."

After going through the winter, at the spring training camp in Miyakonojo, I focused on lifting my left leg and keeping my head still while I hit.

Since the season began, he has been "basically sliding his feet first, or rather, bringing the ball in and then getting advice from Tsuyoshi based on his image," and has been hitting with a sliding motion, lifting his left leg less, and changing his timing depending on pitcher.

Perhaps that's because they're keeping in mind the importance of not moving their head position.

"Yes, I try not to push too far ahead."

Tomosugi is finally entering May, his favorite month. In 2023, his monthly batting average in May was .259 (7 out of 27), but in 2024 it was .323 (20 out of 62), and last season it was .311 (14 out of 45), marking two consecutive years with a batting average above .300. His batting average in May over the three years from turning pro until last year was .306 (41 out of 134).

He struggled in the preseason with a batting average of .167 and started the season on the bench, but since the game Rakuten Eagles on April 19th, he has started six consecutive games as the 'number 7 hitter and short stop'. "I make a lot of unnecessary mistakes, so I want to make sure defense and also make an impression with my batting." The offense, which creates opportunities starting with Tomosugi at number 7 and connects to the top of the order, is creating more chances to score runs. defense skills are high, and if he can become more consistent at bat, he could be a regular player.

Interview and text by Yuta Iwashita