“We will absolutely, absolutely, absolutely win three straight games,” says Nippon-Ham Ham manager Shinjo, announcing the starting lineup for the opening three-game series at a fan appreciation event.
Sports Hochi
2025.11.23(日) 06:00
Nippon-Ham manager Tsuyoshi Shinjo (53) named pitcher Hiromi Ito (28) as the opening pitcher at the “F FES” fan appreciation event held at their home stadium, ESCON, on the 22nd. He also stated that he would use all three of his “pillars” in the opening three-game series against the opposing Softbank, with pitcher Koki Kitayama (26) in Game 2 and pitcher Kota Tatsu Tatsu (21) in Game 3. He also named catcher Yuya Gunji (27) as the opening fourth batter. The team will overwhelm the defending champions, the Hawks, and kick off their first league championship in 10 years.
Manager Shinjo took to the microphone and shouted loudly, “We’ve decided who our opponent will be in next year’s opening game. It’s Softbank. Yessssss. We’ll absolutely, absolutely, absolutely sweep these three.” After exciting the 24,000 fans, he announced starter for the opening three games in quick succession: Ito, Kitayama, and Tatsuya. It is unusual even to announce all the starting pitchers for the opening card at this time of year. “I want Moinelo and Ito to fight one more time and gain momentum,” he said, aiming for revenge by pitting his Sawamura Award-winning ace against the rival team that defeated them in the final round of the CS.
It’s an obsession to beat Softbank. The team’s record this season is 12 wins and 13 losses. They were in first place in the first half of the season, but were swept out in the final stages. pitcher I would have been happy with Tatsukun, but I want to give it a shot next year,” said Ito, who has 14 wins this season, and Kitayama, who has 9 wins. Ito (14 wins this season), Kitayama (9 wins), and Tatsu (8 wins), the “three pillars” of the team, will all be used. They will do everything in their power to get all three wins.
The rotation will also be reformed. This season, around eight starter have been pitched every six days or more, but next season, he has indicated that the rotation will be rotated every five days. “Ito-kun seems to have a good feel. He’s relaxed and seems to have figured out closer opponents down. If we don’t make some changes (from this year), we won’t be able to win the championship,” he said, predicting that he will shorten the intervals between pitching appearances and fight with a carefully selected lineup.
Next season will be his fifth year in office. “Next year, second place is good enough. We’re going to win by a landslide and become number one in Japan,” he declared in Fukuoka dialect. He will first beat the reigning champions and build on his momentum to win the league championship for the first time in 10 years. (Haruki Kawakami)
Gunji is also eager to win the Nagashima Shigeo Award, “whether it’s for the record or the memory.” Gunji is fired up to win the Nagashima Shigeo Award. On the same day, it was announced that number will be changed to “3” from next season, and manager Shinjo surprised him by telling him that he will be the opening day fourth batter and third baseman. His position, number, and batting order are the same as Nagashima’s, and he said, “Given the timing, I feel like I have to say I’m aiming for it (laughs). I want to be a player who leaves an impression, both in terms of records and memories.”
This season he played in 111 games, batting .297 with 10 Home Run. From next season he will inherit the number 3, previously worn by Hiromitsu Ochiai and Kensuke Tanaka. “It’s a number that carries a lot of responsibility. It’s strongly associated with Kensuke Tanaka, but from now on I want to make it a number that also carries a strong image of me,” he said enthusiastically.
Manager Shinjo also revealed that the 23-year-old, who hit two consecutive Home Run short stop” Yamagata is aiming to have the limit lifted, saying, “I want to become a player who can play at short stop all year, even if I’m not limited to Moinelo.”
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AloJapan.com