Lotte's Ryusei Ogawa reached a career-high 120 games played in a single season during the game against the Rakuten Eagles on the 9th.

I am working hard toward my goal of playing in every game, he said. Although he has appeared in 120 out of 121 games this season, he is still not satisfied despite it being a personal record for most appearances in a single season.

In addition to the number of games played, he has already set personal season highs in categories such as hits (110), RBI (23), and runs scored (36), and he is only 4 At Bats away from reaching the required number of plate appearances for the season.

If I play consistently for a full year, I can reach the required number of plate appearances, and my goal was to be in the starting line-up for every game. While I think reaching the required plate appearances is just a milestone, I haven't been in the starting line-up for every game this year, so I think that will be my goal for next year.

This season, he changed to a compact batting form, and after changing his timing to record 2 hits in the Nippon-Ham game on April 15, he even rose to the top of the league in batting average once he reached the required number of plate appearances on May 24.

"I think it depends on the scene and the situation, but for a batter like me, I feel there are many cases where they come to take a strike on the first pitch, so in those situations I go for the first pitch, and as a result, I feel my batting average is good," he said, actively swinging from an early count; his batting average at 0 balls and 0 strikes is .347 (17-for-49).

After the All-Star break, he showed growth in his hitting with an increase in extra-base hits, recording 2 Home Run, 5 doble, and 2 triple. Despite fluctuations throughout the season, he has maintained a .271 batting average so far.

Compared to when I'm at my best, my condition is gradually declining, so being able to hold on somehow gives me confidence. There are still times when my slumps last quite a while, so I feel I need to raise my baseline performance even more.

Regarding defense, he committed his first error of the season in a game against the Softbank Hawks on August 11, ending a streak of 137 consecutive errorless games that had continued since a game against the Orix Buffaloes on July 20 of last year; however, he has repeatedly helped his pitchers with his wide defensive range, positioning, and strong arm.

In the Nippon-Ham game on July 31st after the All-Star break, with two outs and a runner on first in the 5th inning trailing 0-5, he ran and ran toward the right-field line to catch Yuki Nomura's fly ball with his left arm extended in a sliding motion; then, leading off the 6th inning still at 0-5, he made a brilliant diving catch while running backward on a ball hit by Naoki Arizono that looked like it would drop between the center fielder and right fielder.

I am always conscious of my positioning, as I change it ball by ball or adjust my mindset accordingly.

His defense range in the Nippon-Ham game on July 31st was incredible, but I wonder if Ogawa has been instructed by the team to catch every ball he can reach.

"Basically, the outfield has priority, so if there's a call from the outfield, I'll back off. As a team, we are thorough about the outfield having priority. It's a rule that everyone chases balls hit between players, and whoever is called off pulls back, so I'm just doing that," he explained.

With the addition of consistency in hitting to his defense, he has grown into a regular player this season. 'I have been conscious of leveling up my running, hitting, and defense, so I think I have been able to grow in those areas,' he said.

There are 22 games remaining. "I hope to continue appearing in matches until the very end and produce solid results during that time." He will continue to play at full power until the very last moment.

Interview and text by Yuta Iwashita