A pitching style that finally regains this season and “competes in the zone”
Softbank’s Nao Higashihama pitcher who achieved a no-hitter no-run in the Seibu battle on May 11. He did not allow the Lions to hit the line to the end and threw 97 balls in the 9th inning. At the press conference after the match, he smiled refreshingly, saying, “I don’t think it’s something I can do, and I’m happy.”
It was pitching that regained the original appearance of “Nao Higashihama”. Even after achieving his feat, he said many times that he was able to compete in the strike zone. He throws the ball into the strike zone and competes with the batter without getting away. The pitching style of throwing the ball into the zone instead of trying to dodge supported the good pitching of the day.
In 2017, he marked 16 wins and won the most wins, but after that he had a difficult day due to problems with his right shoulder and right elbow. In the four seasons from 2018, nine wins in 2020 are the most. The frustration that did not produce the results as expected continued. He started 14 games last season and finished 4 wins. “Last year, I threw it while thinking about it, but after all I couldn’t help but notice my condition.” He wanted to play against the batter in the zone, but he couldn’t concentrate on the game because he wasn’t in the right position.
