Orix Buffaloes 's first-round developmental draft pick, outfielder Haruto Mikata, is hitting Home Run large numbers by referencing the batting form of MLB Yankees player Aaron Judge.

"My coach advised me to 'try lifting my leg when hitting,' and after watching videos of various players, I tried Judge's relaxed form and it started to feel good," Mikata said, her voice full of excitement.

Mikata hails from Yabu City, Hyogo Prefecture. He played for Soshi Gakuen High School (Okayama), Komazawa University, and the BC League's Tochigi Golden Braves before joining Orix Buffaloes. In high school, he was known as a hard-throwing right-handed pitcher with a top speed of 146 km/h, but his hitting ability was recognized, and he switched to hitter after the fall league season of his sophomore year at Komazawa University. With his powerful hitting, making the most of his impressive 190 cm, 97 kg physique, he was entrusted with a key role in the Tochigi lineup from his first year, recording a batting average of .286, RBI, and 5 Home Run runs in 49 games.

His hitting distance is well-known even at Orix Buffaloes. He hit numerous home runs over the wall during the rookie joint training camp and spring training, and in a World Baseball Classic (WBC) exhibition game against the Czech Republic held at the training camp, he came in as a pinch hitter and recorded two hit, including a spectacular two-run Home Run, and two RBI. More than Home Run, the sharp line drives that hit hit pitcher for a hit reportedly surprised team officials.

It was purely by chance that he arrived at Judge's relaxed pitching form. After changing his form to one where he lifts his leg based on advice from the coaching staff, including minor league manager Naoyuki Kazeoka and roving coach Katsumi Mizumoto, he also referenced videos of players, including those in amateur baseball. "I had watched Judge's videos before, but I looked at how he lifts his leg from various angles to use as a reference," said Mikata.

Then, not only did he notice the way Judge lifted his leg, but he also noticed Judge's relaxed form, where he didn't pull the bat back too much during the backswing. "I tended to tense up, but when I swung with a relaxed feeling, thinking that the ball would fly if I hit it, I was able to hit it squarely on the sweet spot of the bat," he said.

Since changing his batting form in mid-May, he has been hitting Home Run in large numbers. In the game against Hanshin Tigers on June 19 (at Sugimoto Shoji Bs), he hit his fourth home run, tying for the top spot in Home Run in the farm team's West Division.

To make the most of his strengths, hitting coach Masakazu Fukukawa, who advises him "don't hit ground balls" after he joins the team and works with hitting coach Shinji Takahashi, explains the aim of the form change: "Basically, if he doesn't take his time to time his swing, he'll get jammed by fast pitches. I know that if he connects, the ball will fly, so I advised him to lift his leg to hit the ball so far that it will surprise everyone. Since he's a development player, he won't be able to make it to the main roster unless he stands out; it's a life-or-death situation for him. I want him to become a player that pitcher are afraid of and who is visually appealing."

Mitsukata’s motto is “Play with everything you’ve got.” During his time at Komazawa University, shortly after switching to fielder, Coach Yuya Hayashi pointed out issues such as base running when Mitsukata threw hit.Although he wasn’t aware that he was holding back, he still keeps those words—intended to curb his “complacency”—etched in his mind. As a large-framed right-handed hitter with a strong arm, quick feet, and a well-rounded skill set, he is striving with all his might to secure a spot on the roster.

Interview and text by Masaki Kitano