"I wanted to increase my extra-base hits, but since I was getting a lot of singles, I was re-evaluating my point of contact." (From an interview on August 9)

After the All-Star break, Lotte's Naonori Yasuda had many single hits, but in the first inning of the Orix Buffaloes game on August 7th with one out and a runner on second, he hit his 4th two-run home run to the batter's eye off a 4th-pitch fastball thrown by Naruki Teranishi on a 2-ball 1-strike count. He said, "It felt good," and from that point on, his extra-base hits increased again.

Extra-base hits to the opposite field are also increasing. In the game against the Softbank Hawks on August 27, he hit a 149 km/h fastball thrown by Taiga Kamichatani on the second pitch after a one-ball count for a timely doble to left-center. Reflecting on the play, he said, 'I wasn't specifically aiming for it, but while I was looking to pull the ball, it ended up flying there because my timing was slightly late.'

In the game against Nippon-Ham on August 30, during his third at-bat in the fifth inning with two outs and a runner on third and the score at 2-1, he said, 'I wasn't specifically aiming for it, but I think it went up at a good angle,' as he hit the first pitch—a 146 km/h inside cutter thrown by Kohei Arihara—into the front row of the left field stands for his 6th solo home run.

Until now, many of his hits to the opposite field were extra-base hits that split the gap, but one wonders if the Home Run he hit off Arihara in the Nippon-Ham game will create an atmosphere where that begins to change.

That's right, to that extent. Since that hit was the result of pulling the ball, I'm planning to keep going without changing my stance.

During the interview on August 9th, he mentioned that he was reviewing his hitting point; one wonders if the increase in extra-base hits is related to that hitting point.

That's right. However, there are times when I want to pull the ball, so I think it would be better if I could make contact a little further out in front.

I wonder if he hadn't reviewed his hitting points during the season until last year.

I was doing that, but I was also paying attention to other areas as well. This year, that is the point I value most, or rather, the area I am placing the greatest emphasis on.

Naonori Yasuda has had few ups and downs this season. This might be related to him reviewing his hitting points and driving back fastballs.

I think one of the major factors is that when things go wrong, the coaches and analysts provide precise advice.

While he is being aggressive at the plate, he is also managing to draw a Walk. "I'm not really concerned about that right now. For now, I'm just focused on making sure I hit the balls I can hit," he said.

This season, players of the same generation such as Kyota Fujiwara, Koki Yamaguchi, and Misho Nishikawa have grown into core players. Yasuda himself finds it energizing, saying, "Many players younger than me are appearing, and it's stimulating." He added, "I believe I can contribute to the team if I can hit double-digit home runs, so I want to continue aiming for extra-base hits." He intends to achieve his first double-digit Home Run.

Interview and text by Yuta Iwashita