Ori Udagawa was under control in late July… and was also active in the postseason
In this season’s Pacific League, 20 players in the lineup are promoted under scrutiny. It is much more than the 11 last season. In addition to the group returning to control, active newcomers to the first army also appear. An average pitcher was especially impressive. This time we look back at the Relievers who were promoted to Control this season.
First up, Orix launcher Yuki Udagawa. Last season in his freshman year, he pitched once on the farm, but this season, he’s pitched 15 and had a good 1.88 ERA, and was in control on July 28. Lui attracted attention with his powerful throwing style, which clocked the fastest 157km, and scored his first professional win against Seibu on 8 September. Subsequently, he established himself in the winning streak of the team competing for the championship and played 6 games in the postseason. He has become an indispensable force in the final phase of the season.
Orix pitcher Taisuke Kondo was on the center squad, pitching 50 games for three consecutive years since 2017, but underwent Tommy John surgery on his right elbow in 2020 and moved on to a practice contract. This season, which has returned to full-fledged competition after rehabilitation, he has displayed rousing pitching with no goals in eight straight games at the farm since starting, and was back in control on April 25. He had 15 catches, including hitting his first hit in three years and a 2.10 ERA, which is a career-high after setting up first Army.
At Softbank, pitcher Teruya Fujii showed great success. Although he joined Hiroshima in 4th place in the 2014 draft, he left the team in 2020. However, last year, he performed well in the Shikoku Island League plus Kochi Fighting Dogs, and returned to the NPB with a training contract this season. He managed to appeal to open play and was promoted to check on March 22, just before the opener. Armed with a powerful fastball and a hard-hitting “Forsla” sliding sideways, he grabbed a break in his seventh year as a pro with 5 wins, 1 loss, 22 catches and a 1.12 ERA in 55 games. He is expected to move up to the starting line-up next season and attention will be focused on his work in his new role.
