Despite winning consecutive league titles, his personal performance was never satisfactory.
Yakult captain Tetsuto Yamada.
Turning the frustration of last season into strength, I imposed on myself to do the "quantity".
To his second WBC.
We aim to be the best in the world with our passion for the Hinomaru.
(Sports News Department Reporter Shohei Matsuyama)
Day after day, "Tetsuto Yamada" is there
At Yakult's campsite in Urasoe City, Okinawa Prefecture, Yamada was seen in the indoor practice field almost every day after the general practice was over.
Against the batting pitcher, we hit more than 100 balls every day.
One day, after finishing the general practice, I was knocked for about 30 minutes in individual defensive practice, and then I moved to the indoor practice field and took time for batting practice.
At the beginning of the year, I felt a strong determination to work on the practice, saying, "Quality is important, but this year I will stick to 'quantity'."
(Tetsuto Yamada)
“By practicing a lot, you will discover new things, and you will need a strong body to fight for a year. Rather than making adjustments, I want to pursue both quantity and quality.”
Competitive strength in international competitions
Yamada, one of the best second players in the baseball world with a triple threat of "running, attacking and defending", has achieved "triple three" three times for the first time in professional baseball history, with a batting average of 30%, 30 home runs, and 30 stolen bases. I have left behind an impressive track record.
What shines even more is the competitive strength in international competitions.
In the 2019 "Premier 12", he contributed to Japan's victory by hitting a come-from-behind three-run home run in the final match against South Korea.
And at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, where Japan won the gold medal, he started first in all five games, and was selected as the MVP (best player) with a batting average of 30% and 5 minutes, one home run, and seven RBIs. rice field.
Yamada's first hit here has pulled Yakult and the Japanese national team.
Last season "pulled the leg"
But last season, Yamada had a tough time.
The batting average of 20%, 4 minutes, and 3 minutes is the lowest number after entering the professional.
Furthermore, the number of strikeouts was 140, which is 40 more than in 2021, the most in both leagues.
(Tetsuto Yamada)
“I think the on-base percentage is important for No. 1, but last year I had a lot of strikeouts and couldn’t get a foreball. I felt very regretful."
Where is the background of the slump?
Hitting coach Shigeru Sugimura of Yakult, who has coached him since he was young, analyzes it as follows.
(Shigeru Sugimura, batting coach)
"Last year, I didn't have a 'pause' when hitting. In addition, I didn't put my weight on my pivot. It's a batter that doesn't often say that, but I saw that kind of vain last year."
Exploring batting form
With the frustration of last year in his heart, Yamada has repeated trial and error in batting since this offseason.
In order to convey power to the ball and hit it with his own “space,” Yamada first approached was form.
Until the beginning of the camp, I narrowed my feet to about the width of my shoulders when I set up and tried a form that looked like my back was straight.
After that, he said, ``I try every day what I feel,'' and made fine adjustments to my batting form and timing.
Through trial and error, he discovered a new sensation for Yamada, swinging with awareness of the right buttock, which is the pivot foot.
(Tetsuto Yamada)
"At first, I thought I would change my senses from the form, but I wondered if that wasn't the case. However, I made a new discovery during the practice. I was conscious of that (right hip). If I do that, I can swing the way I want, and I can hit the ball as I should. There are things I can test because it's a camp.I want to keep swinging the bat more and more.
Strong feelings for the Hinomaru
Immediately after being nominated at the draft meeting, Yamada had a strong desire to play an active part in the Japanese national team, saying, "I want to be a player who can carry the Japanese flag on my back."
Since then, he has literally become a player representing Japan, and has produced results in numerous international competitions.
While actually carrying the Hinomaru on my back, I felt its weight and changed it into strength.
(Tetsuto Yamada)
"I feel like I'm doing it while balancing my anxiety and the feeling of 'I'm going to do it.' I've experienced a lot, but it's an honor to be able to play for the Japan national team, and even though it puts a lot of pressure on me, I want to get some results."
“We need a philosopher” to meet expectations and become the best in the world
Yamada, who is facing his second WBC.
I will continue to swing that bat toward the world's best following the Premier 12 in 2019 and the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.
(Tetsuto Yamada)
“I was very happy to hear from Coach Kuriyama that we need a philosopher, and I want to live up to his expectations. I just keep doing it.”
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