I absolutely have to reach 100 hits, so I'm not worried about that, but I also want to achieve double-digit Home Runs and my target batting average.

Lotte's Kyota Fujiwara intends to clear all of the following in the remaining games: reaching the regulation number of plate appearances for the second consecutive year, recording 100 hits for the second consecutive year, hitting double-digit Home Runs for the first time in his career, and becoming the leading hitter.

In the latter half of August, Fujiwara was closer to zero At Bat and one hit in four at struck out against Kohei Arihara of Nippon-Ham on August 2nd. However, in their next encounter on August 23rd, in his first at-bat in the first inning with no outs and no runner on base and the score tied 0-0, he hit a leadoff Home Run hitter right field off the second pitch Arihara threw, an inside cutter, after a 1-ball count. In his second at-bat in the third inning with one out and no runner on base and the score tied 1-0, he hit doble center fielder field off the fourth pitch Arihara threw, a 137 km/ change-up, after a 1-ball, 2-strike count. It was impressive how he managed to overcome the inside cutter and change-up closer in their previous encounter.

Fujiwara reflected, "Since there were basically two patterns, the inside cut fastball and the change-up, I was able to eliminate the cut fastball first. I'm glad I was able to focus on and hit the change-up properly."

In the game against Nippon-Ham on August 28, during his third at-bat in the 6th inning with no runners on and trailing 2-6, he was quickly cornered by Koki Kitayama in two pitches. On the third pitch, he batted with a leg-kick form but ended up swinging and struck out against a 150 km/h fastball. Similarly, in the game against the Seibu Lions on August 14, during his fourth at-bat in the 8th inning with two outs and a runner on first while trailing 0-4, he also used a leg-kick after being cornered by Wataru Matsumoto. At that time, he commented, 'If it feels like I can hit by lifting my leg, I will. Since I wasn't hitting well at all that day, I was trying out various things.' One wonders if the reason he lifted his leg after being cornered in the matchup against Kitayama was for the same reason.

That's right, yes. Basically, I want to keep my leg up even when I'm cornered. I'm thinking of practicing various things for next year as well.

In the game against Nippon-Ham on August 30, during his fourth at-bat in the 7th inning with no runner out and the score tied 4-4, he faced Ren Fukushima and worked the count to 3 balls and 2 strike before fouling off pitches and eventually drawing a Walk on the 10th pitch, an inside 142 km/h cutter; then, in the game against the Orix Buffaloes on September 6, his performance against the left-handed pitcher was excellent.

In his second at-bat in the 4th inning with no outs and runners on first and second while leading 1-0, he hit a timely hit to right field off a difficult high-inside fastball thrown by Ryuhei Sotani on the third pitch after two balls. Then, in his third at-bat in the 6th inning with one out and no runner while leading 3-0, his triple to right-center off a slider thrown by Daiki Tajima on the 6th pitch with a 3-ball 2-strike count was excellent.

It was a ball outside the zone, but since I was focused solely on the fastball, I think I was able to get a hit with a good swing path. Regarding the hit off Tajima, it was the first time in a while that my bat came through from the inside, so I think my form is starting to improve.

In the game against the Softbank Hawks on September 12, during his first at-bat in the first inning with one out and no runner, he swung at the third pitch slider thrown by Rutledge at a 1-ball 1-strike count and hit his 8th solo home run into the right-field stands. Then, in his fifth at-bat in the ninth inning with two outs and a runner on first while trailing 2-5, he hit an outside fork thrown by Kazuki Sugiyama at a 1-ball 2-strike count toward left field, achieving a multi-hit game for the first time since the Rakuten Eagles game on the 8th.

Currently, Fujiwara has appeared in 90 games, recording a .277 batting average, 96 hits, 8 Home Runs, 40 RBIs, 12 stolen bases, a .759 OPS, and a .367 batting average with runners in scoring position. His Home Run and RBI totals have already surpassed his single-season career highs, and if things continue to go well, he is on track to reach the required number of plate appearances and 100 hits for the second consecutive year. He aims to improve his batting average once more from this point forward. "Lately, good results haven't been consistent. For now, since the players around me are working hard, I want to do my best to lead the team even more," he said with great determination. With the awareness of being a central hitter, he intends to keep hitting throughout the remaining games.

Interview and text by Yuta Iwashita