◆ Pacific League Rakuten Softbank (13th, Rakuten Mobile)
Softbank ‘s Yugo Maeda (19), pitcher in his second year after graduating from high school and the first pick in the 2023 draft, started for the first time this season, pitching six innings with four hit no runs, earning his first professional win. Osaka Toin’s head coach Koichi Nishitani was delighted with his student’s memorable win, saying, “He’s gotten stronger after a year of playing, and I think he was able to win today thanks to the support of many people.”
On October 1, 2012, he gave up six runs in the third inning in his first professional appearance and first start against Orix. During the offseason, the left-handed pitcher visited his mentor and repeatedly said, “I can’t keep going like this.” In a phone conversation, he spoke forcefully, saying, “I’m working hard to be able to stay in the rotation so that I won’t be demoted to the farm team the next time I’m promoted (to the first team).” Seeing him like that, Coach Nishitani said, “I don’t say closer, but I felt that he was gradually gaining confidence, like he could hold them back if he played properly. I thought he would do well if he had the chance.” The day after the school’s first game in the summer Osaka tournament, the long-awaited moment arrived for his student.
At Osaka Toin, he pitched as the main pitcher from the junior class, and in his third year he led the team as captain and ace. The current third-year students have been watching Maeda’s back for a short time. This day was a practice day. The players were said to have been fascinated by their senior’s figure on the TV at ground during breaks. “I think it’s more meaningful to win after a while than to win last year, so it may be an exaggeration to say that this is the start of his real professional baseball career, but I want him to keep stacking win from here. I think it will be a good stimulus for the current members,” said Coach Nishitani. He expressed his expectations for further success.
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