Orix Buffaloes 's second-year developmental catcher, Kosuke Tajima, is honing his batting skills with advice from Yuma Tongu, the 2023 hitter.

"Of course, I learned about technique, but I also learned about the mindset (towards hitting). Now all I have to do is prepare properly, step up to the plate, and swing the bat," said Hikaru Tajima, looking ahead.

Hikaru Tajima is from Kakamigahara City, Gifu Prefecture. During his third year at Ryukoku University Heian High School (Kyoto), he played as the No. 6 batter and shortstop (catcher) in the summer tournament Koshien. He dropped out of college to pursue a professional career and joined the “Shinano Granseerose” of the Route Inn BC League, an independent league.In 2024, as team captain, he helped the team win its first Japan Independent League Grand Championship. That same year, he was selected fifth overall in the Development Draft and joined the Orix Buffaloes.

"catcher seems to be the kind of player catcher would be," is how the coaching staff evaluates him. Masahiro Takumi, the team scout in charge, explains the reasoning behind this assessment: "He can call the game in a way that capitalizes on pitcher 's strengths, and as a key player for defense, he can lead the team as well catcher."Meanwhile, Daisuke Iida, the development coach currently in charge of his training, commented, “I sense that he has a sense of respect (toward pitcher), or rather, that he knows how to support pitcher and how to structure the game based on that pitcher. That’s rare these days—players like that don’t come along very often, do they?”He highly values the player’s attitude—as a catcher—of staying humble and working hard, including through communication, to bring out the best performance from pitcher.

In his first year, he played in 45 games in the minor leagues, recording only 18 hit in 113 At Bat-bats for a batting average of .159. As a developmental player with limited playing opportunities, improving his batting was a top priority to make an impression. That's when he tackled "1000 swings a day" during the autumn training camp. Even amidst the hard work of practicing as catcher, he said, "I think defense has improved a little, so I want to focus on improving my batting," and swung the bat diligently. This season, his second year, he has played in 30 games, recording 25 At Bat 78 hit, 12 RBI, and a batting average of .321. In the game Hanshin Tigers on April 26th (Aki), he hit Home Run to center field, showcasing his power hitting ability. "I don't think it's about the numbers, but I think it has given me confidence that I've put in the effort," said Hikaru Tajima.

More than technique, it was Tongu's presence that changed his approach to batting. During the offseason, Tongu invited him to "do some extra training together." Although it was only a few times, he was able to receive valuable advice on batting. "He taught me not to just try to make contact at the plate. He told me to focus on swinging, even if pitcher disrupts my form. He also told me not to be passive, but to be aggressive. He also said that it's better to stick to your own style even when it comes to team play strategies." While it's easy to focus on getting results to make the most of the few chances he gets, he learned the importance of establishing his own style without losing his aggressiveness. "After all, there are things you can't know until you actually hit the ball. I've learned to think positively and realize that the result was bad precisely because I swung," he reveals.

Tongu has been sidelined since injuring his right knee during the preseason games, but he has been keeping an eye on Tajima Hikaru's batting and has been encouraging him with messages on LINE saying, "Nice batting." As a developmental player, his playing opportunities are limited, making it difficult to maintain good form, but he understands his position, saying, "That's our position. As a developmental player, we have to produce results with the chances we are given."

"Even when I want to rest, I'll swing the bat for 10 or 15 minutes. After a long game, even if I'm exhausted, I've decided to keep going for the rest of this year," says Hikaru Tajima. "Is it fun? No. It's natural to dedicate my time to baseball. Coach Tongu has told me that this kind of consistent effort is important. You notice things by continuing to do it every day. You develop a mental framework, and even if something feels off, you have a place to return to." His tanned face exudes confidence and self-awareness.

Interview and text by Masaki Kitano