Spring Training Midway Report

The Hanshin Tigers have been hard at work down in Okinawa. Camp started on February 1, and runs through the 27th. Starting this weekend, practice games will become more frequent, and we will see which players are going to get more playing time during the March exhibition games, and which will end up in the Educational League (farm preseason). Here are a few bullet points that highlight some of the things that have been reported by various sports papers.

Pitchers

• Everyone is talking about second-year southpaw Keito Mombetsu. At just 19 years old, his quick development into a potential regular starter has come as a pleasant surprise. Not only has manager Akinobu Okada expressed his impressions, so have multiple sports columnists and commentators. Keep your eyes on #30!
• Newly acquired import Javy Guerra has gotten Okada’s stamp of approval, too. His fielding, pick-offs, and pitching all seem to have put him in a position to get regular mounds as game action is set to begin.
• On the other hand, second-year righty Jeremy Beasley has injured his right shoulder, and will not be throwing bullpens anytime soon. He has left the team’s first squad camp (Ginoza) and headed to the farm facilities (Gushikawa), where he will rehab. No timetable for his return.
• Yuki Nishi is also nursing an injury, though it does not appear to be serious. He tweaked his calf, though he has thrown enough bullpens that he should be ready to get back at things soon, says Okada.
• First-round draft pick Kaito Shimomura is back at practice after sitting out a few days. Okada says he is simply experiencing fatigue after having played so much in his final year of college. “No need to rush him back into action,” the skipper calmly explained.

Catchers & Infielders

• Teruaki Sato is hitting the ball well so far. He led off the second intrasquad game with a home run, and has gone 4-4 so far. He has made some adjustments to his swing and batting form. Okada says his biggest concern with Sato is his defense. “If he builds up his lower body strength and fields a lot of grounders in practice, not only will his defense improve, but he will see positive effects in his hitting as well. He has the potential to hit 30-40 home runs, and even compete for the home run title.” Sato spent some time in Seattle at Driveline after the team’s victory trip to Hawaii.
• Third-year catcher Hayato Nakagawa has been slowed by an injury to his right leg. It is not believed to be serious. He is still just 20 years old, and might not be ready for the top squad this year anyways, but his specs look good and he has a chance of being the Tigers’ main catcher in a few years.
• Yusuke Ohyama is still just 29 years old but is talking about how he wants to keep playing until he is 40. He is looking more into how to maintain his body, especially as age slows him down in the upcoming years.

Outfielders

• Kyosuke Noguchi is the position player version of Mombetsu. Entering his second year with the team, he was once just a development player but is now turning heads with his power. Okada has said he will keep using him in upcoming games because he sees something special in him. He collected an RBI in one of the intrasquad games last weekend.
• Not to be outdone, Ukyo Maegawa is also taking care of business. He went 4-4 with a walk in the first intrasquad game this season. Unlike Noguchi (a righty), Maegawa has no rivals as a left-handed hitter. (Note: Koji Chikamoto is also a lefty but his spot in center is guaranteed.)
• Johan Mieses hit a home run in the first intrasquad game and will aim to get more playing time this season than he did in 2023.
• Shota Morishita is looking to evolve his game. He has not been guaranteed a spot on the top roster despite his clutch performance last year, and he is hungry to prove that he is worthy to get regular playing time again this year.
• Newcomer and development player Kein Fukushima drove in a run in the second intrasquad game and stole a base as well. He was drafted for his legs, and has already shown promise.