Lotte's Tsuyoshi Yamasaki is making his presence felt more and more each day.

Yamazaki played for Rakuten Eagles until last season and is a talented player who appeared in 117 games in 2023, but last year, perhaps due to surgery on his left knee, he did not appear in any games for either the first or second team, and after the season ended, he joined Lotte as a developmental player.

On April 25th, he made his debut in a minor league regular season since transferring teams, playing as the "number 1 DH" in the game against Hayate. In his first at-bat in the first inning, he hit hit to left field. On May 2nd, he played in the field for the first time since transferring defense in a game against Orix Buffaloes minor league team. From May 8th against The Giants minor league team to May 31st against the Hiroshima minor league team, he recorded hit in 11 consecutive games. On May 24th, in a game against Seibu Lions minor league team, in his third at-bat in the 7th inning with two outs and a runner on first base, he hit his first Home Run since transferring teams to strike field off the fourth pitch thrown by Bo Takahashi, a 145 km/ fastball on the outside corner, with the score 1-6.

In the field, in a game against the Hiroshima minor league team on May 31st, with the score 4-3 in the 6th inning with one out and runners on first and third, he made a sliding catch of a ground ball down third base line hit by Toshiki Yasutake and throw to first base for the out. Not only can he play short stop, second baseman, and third base, but he also played in outfield (left field) for the first time since joining the team in a game against Rakuten Eagles minor league team on June 2nd, saying, "I'm thinking of doing my best wherever I can."

On June 5th, he expressed his gratitude for being given the opportunity and for being selected, saying, "I am grateful for being picked up and for being given this chance. I am also filled with gratitude to everyone who has supported me and cheered me on up to this point. From here on, I will do my best to do what I can to be a valuable asset to the team." He had earned a spot on the main roster.

He made his debut at Zozo Marine Stadium on June 10 against The Giants, coming in as a defense in the 7th inning of the game against the Giants that Chunichi day, and commented, "It's amazing. I think the volume of their voices is incredible."

In the game against DeNA on the 13th, in the third inning with two outs and no runner on base, Kentaro Shinoki hit a single to center fielder field off the fifth pitch, hit, thrown with a 2-ball, 2-strike fastball In his next at-bat, he hit another hit to left field, marking a multi-hit hit.

"I was able to do it in the minor leagues, but I feel it's different in the major leagues. I feel that things like sharpness and control are different."

On the same day, he recorded multiple hit, including his first hit since joining the team, but was removed from the first-team roster on June 14. He played in 11 games, including four hit in the game against Oisix on June 30 and three hit in the game against Yakult second team on July 4, and was hitting exceptionally well with a batting average of .478, returning to the first team on July 10.

He didn't start starting line-up during his first promotion, but after being promoted again on July 10th, he made his first start since joining starting line-up in the game against Orix Buffaloes on July 11th. After Atsuki Tomosugi was removed from the first-starting line-up roster, he got more opportunities to start at short stop.

He is currently on a three-game hit, and has played in 14 games in July with a batting average of .286. Immediately after being promoted, he said that his batting was different in terms of the control and sharpness of pitcher between the first and second teams, but he has now adjusted well, saying, "I feel like I've gotten used to it quite a bit."

He often bats ninth, a crucial batting order in the lineup that sets up the top of the order. "I try to just do my own swing. I don't really think about batting ninth; I just focus on doing my own swing," he says confidently.

short stop defense also hit a ball that was about to fall between Tomoya Mori 's left field and short stop in the 2-0 game against Orix Buffaloes on July 26, in the fourth inning with runners on first and second and no outs, and catch the ball that was about to fall between and , and hit the outbound runner runner Ryoma Nishikawa to second.

"I've gotten used to it quite a bit. It's been a while since I've played defense, but my knee has gotten much better, so yes."

Since being promoted again, he seems to be fulfilling his role. "I won't know if I'm fulfilling it until it's over, so I'm just preparing and doing my best to fulfill my role."

Regarding his preparation, he revealed, "It's preparation to get results in the match. I'm always conscious of getting my body in good condition."

"Above all, I want to produce solid results this summer. I want to repay the favor for the opportunity they gave me. I think I'll get even better from here on out." He will show his true potential in the second half of the season.

Interview and text by Yuta Iwashita