Lotte's Hayato Miyazaki has made three relief appearances since being promoted back to the first team on August 20th.

The left-hander, who played for the Softbank Hawks until last season and joined Lotte this season, secured a spot on the opening day roster and made his first appearance since transferring in the game against the Seibu Lions on March 29. He pitched one inning with zero runs, acting as a closer, stating, 'I was able to push through with my fastball, which is my strength, so I want to keep developing my good points. I also think I was able to throw my breaking ball well, which used to be a weakness. I won't turn a blind eye just because it's a weakness, and I will continue to improve them just like my fastball.'

On April 4th, he gave up 2 runs in 1 inning against his former team, the Softbank Hawks, marking three consecutive games with runs allowed, and was removed from the first-team roster on April 15th. After being demoted to the farm team, he performed as a closer for 7 consecutive games without runs from the Chunichi second-team game on May 26th to the Hayate game on July 10th, and also performed as a closer for 3 consecutive games without runs starting from The Giants second-team game on August 8th before his re-promotion.

In the Rakuten Eagles farm team game on August 15, he was not using a form where he stopped completely after lifting his right leg, but was instead throwing with a quick-motion style. 'Until now, I often lost my timing due to straining, so after discussing with the farm team pitcher coaches, Mr. Fukuura, and various others to find my own form, I felt that style might be the best for me right now. Since I tried that style and it has been working well, I am proceeding with that form.'

In the minor leagues, I got the impression that he practiced his pitches in the bullpen after the team practice and also took his time to carefully practice catch for a long period.

The second-team pitcher coach repeatedly told me to value every single ball, whether it's just a few throws during a catch or a long session, and I am still able to do that now that I've returned to the top team. I am working on it while making sure to quickly grasp my own form and balance.

During the February spring camp in Miyakonojo, he said, 'I have been continuing the work I did on the precision of my fastball since my time with The Hawks, including during the off-season, and I feel like I have a good sense for it, so I am continuing that approach.' He further expressed his thoughts, saying, 'First of all, when asked what my greatest weapon is, I believe it is my fastball. While I continue to push the limits of my fastball, I think it is important to work while carefully checking the balance with my breaking balls and other pitches.'

In an interview right after the season opener, he said, "I can throw it with confidence next to my cutter, but since I have more confidence in the cutter, I will practice so that I can throw it with as much confidence as the cutter." However, he had not been throwing that change-up much in the minor league games. Perhaps it was related to the fact that he was able to function as a closer using only three pitch types: the fastball, cutter, and slider.

First of all, I am focusing on controlling my basic pitch types. While working solidly on those three, I am practicing observing the hitter to decide whether to use them or not—this applies to the cutter and slider as well—and making sure to pitch while watching the hitter, including the fastball.

It's not that I've gotten rid of the change-up. 'I believe that if I can't compete in the zone first, I can't do my job as a pitcher. So, I've been working hard in the minors to focus on that and to fully master the pitches that are my main weapons or those I throw with high frequency.'

Since being promoted to the first team, he gave up runs in the game against the Softbank Hawks on August 25th, but in the game against the Rakuten Eagles on September 9th, he performed as a closer with no runs allowed.

In the game against the Rakuten Eagles on the 9th, I was able to face the hitters head-on, so it was good that I could keep throwing strikes first. The game against The Hawks on August 25th was a match where I learned that if the ball goes a bit high or into a sweet spot, it will be hit hard. I am practicing every day while thinking for myself about how to avoid letting the ball go into those sweet spots.

What caught my attention was that while he had been pitching with a quick-like form even when there were no runners before his promotion, in the game against the Rakuten Eagles that day, he was stopping his right foot completely before throwing, just as he used to do.

Regarding the reason, he explained, "After speaking with the pitching coordinator and the pitching coach, they suggested I try throwing over there once, so I gave it a shot. It was like a test run, or just trying it out for one session."

I wonder if he wants to choose the better way to throw depending on his physical condition that day.

It depends on the day, but I want to keep working so that I can pitch in a way that fully demonstrates my true ability. On the 9th, it just so happened that we decided to try it out as a test.

In the game against the Softbank Hawks on the 11th, he was pitching with a quick-style form even when there were no runners. In his remaining appearances, he wants to show through results that he can perform at the first-team level.

Interview and text by Yuta Iwashita