[Rakuten] Katsutoshi Tai who pitched his second first-team game, struck out 5 innings, gave up no runs, and hit a new pitch. "I hope I can improve my position."

[Rakuten] Katsutoshi Tai who pitched for the second time in the first team, gave up 5 strikeouts and no runs in 2 innings and hit a new pitch, said, “I hope I can improve my position.”

Sports Hochi

2025.9.24(水) 22:14

４番手で登板の泰勝利（カメラ・今成　良輔）

Pacific League Rakuten 3-8 Softbank (24th, Rakuten Mobile)

Rakuten pitcher Katsutoshi Tai from the eighth inning, pitched two innings, allowing two hit, striking out five batters strike out no runs. In his professional debut against Nippon-Ham on August 16th (Rakuten Mobile), he pitched one inning, allowing three hit and one runs, so he proudly said, “This will give me confidence.”

In his first appearance in the first team, he felt that he could “catch swings and fouls with a straight line”, but on August 17, the next day, he fell to the second team. After about a month on the farm, he learned a new slider to make use of the straightness of his weapon. In this game, he was also effective in adjusting the count and using it as a missed struck out deciding ball. While talking about the accuracy that is still a long way off, he felt that the range of pitch had expanded, saying, “I feel like the batter’s reaction has changed, and the number of misses that I can’t react has increased.” Ota, who received the ball, also said, “breaking ball was swinging his arm straight, and he threw a very good ball, so I’m looking forward to the next time and beyond.” The left-hander, who is enthusiastic about “gradually improving my position along with the results” while gaining various experiences one game at a time, will be a new weapon for the team aiming to advance to CS.

[Rakuten] Katsutoshi Tai who pitched his second first-team game, struck out 5 innings, gave up no runs, and hit a new pitch. “I hope I can improve my position.” | Pacific League

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