Taira Gaima (25), a right-handed pitcher of the Seibu Lions of the Nippon Professional Baseball, gave up participating in the WBC (World Baseball Classic) to take a chance as a starting pitcher. If he had gone to the WBC Japan representative, he could have been the main character of the championship. Last month, when it was hot with the WBC, Dyra went out and threw in an exhibition game.

Top speed of 160km/h. Super relief that throws powerful 카지노fastballs and various breaking balls. That was until last year. He appeared in 61 games last season and pitched 57⅔ innings. 1 win, 3 losses, 9 saves, 34 holds, ERA of 1.56. Ranked 1st in the Pacific League hold.

Dira, who made his debut in the first team game in 2019, was a professional pitcher in the bullpen. Over the past four years he has appeared in 203 games as a reliever alone. In 2021, he played 62 games as a middle and finisher, posting 20 saves and 21 holds (3 wins, 4 losses, an average ERA of 0.90).

He became the best as a relief pitcher, but Daira’s dream was to become a starting pitcher. When he renewed his contract at the end of last year’s season, he made it a condition of switching to the starting team. Japan national team coach Hideki Kuriyama cheered him on for taking on a new challenge, but did not include him in the national team roster.

An exhibition game against the Yokohama Baystars held at Seibu Dome in Tokorozawa, Saitama on the 26th. Taira took the mound as the second pitcher after Kona Takahashi (26), the starter for the opening game. Before the start of the season this week, he took the mound for the last time to check his condition.

3 innings, 2 hits, 1 walk, no runs, 48 ​​pitches. He faced 12 batters, striking out five.

He said in an interview with the Japanese media, “It felt good. There was nothing particularly bad about it. I want to continue throwing like this in the regular season.”

He said his fastball reached a top speed of 153 km per hour, and he said he would increase his velocity a little more. Manager Kazuo Matsui praised him, saying, “If he throws this much, he is flawless as a starting pitcher.”

He stood at a turning point in his baseball career. The starting pitcher conversion process is smooth. He went out in 5 games, including an exhibition game, and he pitched 20 innings. He did not give up a single point.

He struck out 16 in 17 innings in four exhibition games. Daira started against the Softbank Hawks on the 12th and became the winning pitcher with 2 hits and no runs in 6 innings.

Orix Buffaloes match at Seibu Dome on April 2nd. The third match from the opening is Dara’s starting debut.