Lotte's Shuta Takano has regained his stability, closer three consecutive games and four inning perfectly since the game Rakuten Eagles on April 19th, and is currently on a four-game scoreless runs.

Last year, he started the season as a long reliever in games where his team was behind, but he gradually rose through the ranks using his unique fork, which had a trajectory similar to change-up, as his weapon. He eventually got to pitch the 8th inning in games where his team was winning, and he had a breakout year, appearing in 37 games with a record of 5 wins, 3 losses, 15 hold, and ERA of 1.84.

This year, he threw 8 games and 9 innings in practice games and open games in February, and opened the season with 11 strike out, which is more than inning, and all appearances runs without a hit. In the opening game against Seibu Lions on March 27th, after starter Kaito Mori (Meiji University), who closer 5 innings runs a no-, he went up to mound in the 6th inning of 2-0 and closer 1 inning runs. In Game Seibu Lions on March 29, he got off to the best of his best bet by taking the mound with two outs and bases loaded in the sixth inning of the 0-2 game, hitting Manaya Nishikawa to right.

After losing two goals against Nippon-Ham on April 1, four consecutive runs and frustrating mound matches followed from the same game. I am grateful and happy that the coach has high expectations for me because of the frustrating results, and that he is using me. I am grateful and happy that the director is looking up to me and using me. I think I just have to give my 100% because I am in demand. I will respond to the director's request with results.

In the Rakuten Eagles game on April 17, he took the mound in the 10th inning of 0-0 and did not runs one inning. In the 10th inning of the 0-0 game, with one out and second base, Hikaru Ota was strike from 2 to a struck out swing of 124 kg fork was very good. "Originally, my fork didn't match the data, or rather, I thought I would pass. I missed the straight first pitch and swung the fork like I wondered if the fork system (was in my head), and it was a no-fly swing, so I thought I would pass one more pitch and played early. If we had gone in a three-ball game without a play ball, we would have decided on a good place and got a good swing. In the end, it was the best form."

In the game Rakuten Eagles on April 19th, he took the mound in the 7th inning with the score 2-5, and said, "When I'm in good form, I can get through it quickly, so I think I was in good form today," as he retired the side in order in quick succession. In the top of the 8th inning, his team scored 6 runs to secure a come-from-behind win, earning him his first win of the season.

In the first game of the Softbank Hawks game on April 25th, Atsuki Taneichi took the mound in third place from the 4th inning of a 5-0 score and pitched a perfect relief of 2 inning. There was a one-week gap between pitches, but in the Seibu Lions game on May 2nd, the three of them cooked the first inning without any danger.

This season, fork is once again the cornerstone of Takano's pitch. It accounts for 57.6% of pitch pitches, surpassing fastball 's 39.4%. Perhaps he throws fork so often because he trusts it so much?

"That's part of it, and one of my weaknesses is that because fork isn't working well, I throw it too much, and fork gets through when I'm trying to get the batter to focus on a straight pitch. I learned that through painful experience. I'm not consciously trying to throw fork, but I think there might be a bit of an element of escapism in it, and that's something I'm reflecting on."

strike out rate is currently 11.32, higher than last season's 10.23. "I think one of my strengths, or rather, the reason I'm given the opportunity to play even with runner on base, is my high strike out rate. When I'm in good form, like throughout last year, I think the high number of strike out is proportional to my performance, so I want to continue aiming for that in the future."

This season, he's pitched in a variety of situations, including inning multiple innings, in winning games, when his team is behind, and in tied games. "I used to think about where I wanted to pitch, or how nice it would be to pitch in win in the position where he's needed.

Interview and text by Yuta Iwashita