After starting as a starting pitcher, he remains as the designated hitter even after being replaced. He plays in right field at the end of the game.
The so-called ‘three sword style’ that utilizes 100% of Shohei Ohtani (LA Angels), the ‘double sword style (both batting)’ that produces the best results in the major leagues for both pitcher and hitter. Will we see it at the World Baseball Classic (WBC)? 메이저놀이터
Japan national team coach Hideki Kuriyama recently appeared on TBS and had a conversation with SMAP former Masahiro Nakai. Nakai serves as the captain of the official cheering squad for Samurai Japan (Japan national team).
In addition to Ohtani, the Japanese national team participating in the 5th WBC consists of top-notch starting pitchers such as Yu Darvish (San Diego Padres), Rocky Sasaki (Chiba Lotte Marines), and Yoshinobu Yamamoto (Orix Buffaloes). On this day’s broadcast, coach Kuriyama sighed about the starting rotation, saying, “I’ve been thinking about it for six months, but it’s not easy to decide. It’s a short game, so I’m worried.”
However, Darvish said, ‘It doesn’t matter which position. He said he would play in the bullpen if the manager wanted it. Coach Kuriyama said, “He is a player who is so devoted to the national team. Thank you.”
“Especially in the case of the first round, the pitch limit is 65 pitches. The starting pitcher may go down in the third inning. Concerned about the lack of pitchers, 15 pitchers were included out of the total 30,” he explained. Coach Lee Kang-chul, who leads the Korean national team, also organized 15 pitchers for the same reason.
Regarding the use of Ohtani, he carefully revealed his disagreement with his team, the Angels. According to local reports in the United States, the Angels are putting strict conditions on the use of Ohtani. There is also a story that Ohtani asked for the number of pitches in the first round to be 40 like in spring camp.
Coach Kuriyama explained, “It is undecided whether Ohtani will be the starting pitcher. The national team is in a position to borrow players. If possible, I would like (my team) to allow Lee Do-ryu.”
Then, to the question, “Can you see right fielder Ohtani?”, he said, “There is an injury and there is a shortage of players, and if there is Ohtani in the designated hitter, he will say he will go (to right field) before I say.” “It is not for me to decide. Player I believe in the soul of. I wonder if he himself will explain to his team.”
The Japanese national team formed the outfield with three major leaguers: Lars Nutba (St. Louis Cardinals), Seiya Suzuki (Chicago Cubs), and Masataka Yoshida (Boston Red Sox). In this case, Ohtani will be put in. Director Kuriyama added, “If we go to the third level, there will be problems with pitching. For now, I want to focus on the pitcher and the designated hitter.”
However, just like Korea, the Japanese national team also suffers from the possibility of major leaguers joining the team late. At the ceremony, coach Kuriyama said, “We are negotiating with our team. We are making various preparations according to the situation.”