Japan’s WBC (World Baseball Classic) national team confirmed the order of 13 pitchers ahead of the practice game. As expected, with Rocky Sasaki (Chiba Lotte) and Yoshinobu Yamamoto (Orix) starting, the players who were in charge of starting in their team moved to long relief or setup man.
However, there is something notable about the order of appearances. On the 25th, in a practice game against the Softbank Hawks, Japan will continue the game assuming a game after regular innings. At this time, the pitcher to mound is the ‘youngest national representative’메이저놀이터, Hiroto Takahashi (20, Chunichi). He is not a finisher on his team, nor is he an experienced veteran.
This time, the WBC goes straight into the match from the 10th inning. It starts at second base with no out in the major league way. Takahashi is ‘Doctor K’ who recorded 134 strikeouts in 116⅔innings last year. It can be useful in situations where there are runners.
However, there was something else that director Hideki Kuriyama paid attention to. According to Japan’s Sponichi on the 22nd, coach Kuriyama paid attention to Takahashi’s aggression, saying, “He has the most important thing.”
Manager Kuriyama said, “(Takahashi) is a player who knows how to strike out even at a young age and does not collapse with walks. The most important thing is that a pitcher on the mound must catch a batter. It’s not that pitchers don’t have it, but Takahashi especially does.”
Meanwhile, major leaguer Darvish Yu (San Diego) does not pitch in practice games, but comes out to check his condition before the official evaluation of the tournament to be held on the 6th and 7th of next month. Shohei Ohtani (Angels) is expected to join the national team after taking the mound in the Angels’ spring camp exhibition game.