Seibu Lions ・ Kaima Taira pitcher will start in the Interleague opener on the 26th against Yakult (at Jingu Stadium).

For Taira, a right-handed pitcher and left-handed batter, the most enjoyable part of the interleague games is "batting." He doesn't know Home Run total number of home runs in high school, saying, "I didn't really keep track. When I turned pro, I saw something in a magazine about how many home runs you'd hit in your career, and I thought, 'Oh, so you have to keep track of that.'" However, he says, "I have hit some at places like Cellular Stadium Naha," and has made a resounding sound with his characteristic power.

However, since turning pro, he hasn't even hit. With the designated hitter system being adopted in Central League next season, this will be the last chance for pitcher to hit Home Run. He owns his own VR goggles and says, "I want to carefully observe the opponent in VR and take countermeasures to the best of my ability," indicating that his mental training is perfect. No Seibu Lions pitcher has hit Home Run since Daisuke Matsuzaka in 2006, so he says, "If I'm going to be up to bat, I'm definitely going to aim for one," and he will be aiming for a home run in every at-bat.

Of course, when it comes to his main job, pitch he says, "I look at the data to make sure I understand where the opponent's weaknesses are, and then I exploit those weaknesses effectively. That hasn't changed," and he's using the same excellent pitching as in the league games to give momentum to his team, which is currently in first place.