Orix Buffaloes pitcher Soichiro Yamazaki (26) will continue to write an exclusive column for Sports Hochi titled "Life is Only Once" in 2025. Last year, he was limited to pitching in seven games due to poor condition of his upper body, and he only contributed to the column once. In the first installment of the new season, which kicks off with the Miyazaki camp and moves on to the exhibition games and opening games, he sets a goal of pitching in 50 games for the first time in two years, and promises to make a comeback by saying, "Please keep watching." The column will be published from time to time along with ace pitcher Hiroya Miyagi 's (23) column "Life is a Hundred Years of Training."
To all Sports Hochi readers, it's been a while. I look forward to your continued support this season. I started "You only live once" last year, and it turned out that I only had the opportunity to write a column once. It was a valuable opportunity for people to get to know me better. I hope to do well this year and be able to share more with you.
During the camp, I had a lot of time to face myself and think about a lot of things. pitch form, weight transfer. I had time to think, so my thoughts flowed in both good and bad directions. I even had a dream about baseball once in February. "This is the way to throw! I know how to do it intuitively!" But when I woke up and tried to practice it right away, the way I threw disappeared... Dreams are easy to forget, but baseball was on my mind the whole time.
I want to do better than last year, I want to get better. I believed in what I had been working on and went into the game. However, in the Red vs. White game on February 17th, I gave up three runs in two-thirds of the innings. I was really depressed, thinking, "Is this all there is to it?" After pitching, I threw to the net by myself. It was a form-solidifying practice that I did when I was younger at the farm team. It wasn't a return to basics, but it helped me calm down. I felt like I was in a rut because I had too much of a desire to "change."
In a word, I was thinking too much. I was thinking too much about my form and I wasn't able to concentrate on hitter. I was doing unnecessary things and it was affecting my mentality. The most important thing is to compete with hitter, hold closer build up confidence. When it comes to the game, there's no time to think. pitcher coach Atszawa and many other people have been keeping an eye on me and supporting me. I will definitely repay them with results.
Speaking of mentality, I changed the names of breaking ball from last offseason. I call slider cutter and fork splitter. The idea of forcing it to curve and drop was working in a bad direction. I changed my mindset to think that a small change is okay, and it became a little easier. The grip and throwing style are the same, so it's actually making a good curve.
To be honest, I am not completely relieved of my worries. We are working on what we can only do now in anticipation of such a situation. 27th against Korea Lotte was one inning without runs. mound The practice at pitch was the best in camp. I felt a straight line landing on my mitts with a snap. The fastest speed was also 151 km/h. Jumping and trying to grab the big ones has been my bad so far. One at a time...I tell myself, "One at a time...I'm going to crush the challenges. I believe that is the best shortcut.
Last year, I got injured (note), and for the first time in my life, I was frustrated with baseball. What was especially painful was the pain in front of my collarbone, around the base of my shoulder. It hurt even when I was just standing, and it hurt even when I was lying down. It was always painful. baseball is fun and interesting. I want to pitch more than 50 games, and for me, speed is also a romantic thing. I also want to be conscious of the number 165 km.
Our job is to make the fans enjoy themselves. I will do my best to be recognized and gain the attention of many people through the popular original member voting. There is a formidable opponent called Miyagi, though (laughs). I feel like I'm on the edge of a cliff this year, and I need to get back to the first team. I will overwhelm hitter and bring them to a level where I can dominate hitter. Please keep watching. (Yamazaki Soichiro)
(Note) Last year, he complained of poor condition towards the end of training camp, but managed to make it to the first team at the start of the season. He was demoted to the second team on April 14th for readjustment. He was promoted on May 22nd, but was removed from the player registration list again on May 29th due to poor condition of his upper body. He continued to train with the farm team, with 0 wins and 1 loss in 7 games, and no saves or hold. His performance has dropped significantly since 2017, when he recorded 9 saves and 27 hold in his career-high 53 games, and was even pitcher was lifted up in celebration in the championship game.
◆Yamazaki Soichiro Born June 15, 1998 in Kaga City, Ishikawa. 26 years old. Started playing baseball at Yamashiro Little baseball Club in the third grade of elementary school, and belonged to Kaga Boys in junior high school. Selected for the Boys Japan national team in the third grade, and won the World Youth baseball Championship. At Tsuruga Kehi, he was on the bench from the spring of his first year, and played Koshien in the spring and summer of his second year and the spring of his third year. Joined Orix as the sixth pick in the 2016 draft. He was called up to the Japanese national team for the 2011 WBC, and experienced being the world champion. His career record is 3 wins, 6 losses, 10 saves, 33 hold, and ERA 2.76 in 84 games. He is 190 cm tall and weighs 98 kg. He bats and throws right-handed. Annual salary is 53 million yen.
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