[Nippon-Ham Ham Fighters] Batting coach Yokoo joins the first team, filling in for hospitalized batting coach Yagi, saying, “I’ll just take over.”
Sports Hochi
2025.9.11(木) 16:41
◆ Pacific League Nippon-Ham vs Orix (11th, ES CON FIELD)
Nippon-Ham Fighters’ second-team batting coach, Toshitake Yokoo, has joined the first team. He is filling in for Coach Yagi, who was hit in the head by a bat and is currently hospitalized. He will play a major role in the team’s fight for the championship.
After the pre-game practice, when asked about the atmosphere among the first team, Coach Yokoo said, “The fact that we’re competing for the championship is amazing in itself, and the players are practicing in a good atmosphere. The players who have come up from the lower ranks are also working hard, so I think that’s good.”
He revealed that he had exchanged messages with Coach Yagi in advance, and that he had been entrusted with the role, saying, “I’ll just take over what Coach Yagi is doing. I was able to get in touch with him before practice, so I feel like I’m working together with Yagi. (Yagi) said, I’m sorry for causing you trouble in this way, but please take care of me.”
Regarding his sudden promotion in the midst of the championship race, he said, “I feel a bit nervous about it happening at a time when we’re in the running for the championship, but rather than thinking about myself, I just want Yagi to return safely and quickly. It might put pressure on him to return quickly, so it’s difficult. I’ll do my best until I can return, and I hope to be able to support the players.”
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・ [Nippon-Ham] Giant mural of Darvish, Ohtani-like Hiromi Ito, and Chusei Mannami in ESCON, 10 meters high
・ [Nippon-Ham] Hiromi Ito leaves the game after giving up 6 runs in the 6th inning after giving up 12 hit, the worst this season. The fastest 10 wins in both leagues since Ohtani.
・ [Orix] With two consecutive shutout game wins, they have risen to second place, 1.5 points behind the leader Nippon-Ham! Ryuhei Sotani pitched eight runs innings for his career-high eighth win.
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AloJapan.com