◆ Pacific League Nippon-Ham 7-10 Softbank Hawks (20th, ES CON FIELD)

On the 20th, Nippon-Ham lost to Softbank Hawks (at Escon Stadium) after their pitcher staff couldn't hold on. catcher Kengo Yoshida (25), who came in as a pinch hitter in the 5th inning, hit a two-run homer to left field, his first of the season. He continued to play as catcher and hit a double to right-center doble in the 8th inning, showing his presence with the bat with 2 RBI in 3 At Bat-bats and 2 hit. In his first time catcher this season, he still had room for improvement, such as a passed ball, but he will continue to eagerly seek out more playing opportunities.

Yoshida brilliantly scooped up a low-dropping fork. In the fifth inning, trailing by six runs, he responded to his pinch-hitting call with no outs and a runner on second base with one swing. He nodded as he hit his first home run of the season, a two-run shot that landed in the left-field bullpen, saying, "My body just reacted automatically. Being able to react without anticipating the pitch is the feeling I get when I'm in good form. I want to keep this feeling going."

It demonstrated generational unity. The millennial generation, considered the team's largest faction. pitcher Including registered Yazawa, all eight players fielder—Mannami, Nomura, Tamiya, Mizuno, Mizutani, Narama, and Yoshida—are currently playing in the first team. "When I was in the farm, I thought I was the only one left. The guy who didn't seem like he would hit got hit first." He laughed at the slowest issue of the same season and said, "This is a complete home run for the millennial generation."

This season, Yoshida has focused on defensive positions other than catcher, including trying out second base during spring training. After pinch-hitting, manager Shinjo, who used him as catcher for the first time this season, highly praised his hitting and explained his intention, saying, "I think there are some difficult aspects, but we are a team where you have to seize the opportunity no matter what position you play." Yoshida responded, "I think they expect me to hit, so I'll just focus on hitting. (defense) I'll gradually gain their trust wherever I go and play as many inning as possible." First and foremost, he will increase his playing opportunities by hitting. (Yasushi Yamaguchi)