Kiyomiya’s 2-run home opener was the game-winning hit, and Manager Shinjo said, “I want you to hit the runners.”
Nippon-Ham outfielder Kotaro Kiyomiya started in a practice game with Samsung’s Korean professional baseball team on the 9th as “5th and 1st base”, and hit the “first home run of the season” in the first at-bat twice. This was the last shot, and the team won a shutout with a score of 3-0. We decorated the first foreign game of the season with a win.
Kiyomiya’s one hit was the scoreless second inning for both teams. He was following the double left wing line of the leading 4th, Yuki Nomura. Heo Yoon-dong’s left-arm inside ball removed and went to the right-wing lawn seat with a bullet liner. No. 1, 2 runs in his first at-bat in an outfield game. A roar went up from the audience.
The team got off to a good start with a 7-pitcher relay. After the game, head coach Shinjo Tsuyoshi revealed, “As for Kiyomiya-kun, that’s a sign of the starting bases. I want him to bat to advance the runners.”
Last season, he hit 18 home runs, the most of his career, but he is still lacking. Director Shinjo said, “I ended up hitting a home run, but that’s what spurred me on. For example, I’m aiming for a straight one from two balls. I feel like I’m going to hit base. If I hit it Like today, it’s like that. It would be great if you could get the experience of hitting a home run with just the right angle.”
An exciting result that is far from a sign of runners advancing with a grounder. “In the end, it turned out like that, but I think it is an advantage. As a result, I let him move on, so he was not happy.” Director Shinjo never blamed him.
(Full Account editorial section)
