Loki Sasaki (21), a fastball pitcher of the Chiba Lotte Marines of the Japanese professional baseball team, showed off his power by throwing another 160km ball in his first real match.
Sasaki appeared as a starting pitcher in a practice game against the Yakult Swallows held at the Okinawa camp on the 15th and played two innings. He finished his first appearance with a scoreless run on one hit and five strikeouts.
Sasaki went to practice outside before the WBC national team training camp in Miyazaki, which starts on the 17th. He struck out all three Yakult batters in the first inning. The Yakult batters were helpless by a 160km fastball from a 145km fork and slider. 온라인카지노
He then faced Munetaka Murakami (23), who was selected for the WBC national team as the first batter in the second inning. He was the first Japanese player to hit 56 home runs last year and received the unanimous MVP award. He is a candidate for the fourth hitter of the WBC national team. However, Sasaki’s 160km body fastball struck out with a miss and withdrew.
He was hit by the second batter, but finished the mound with two out counts on a grounder to shortstop and a strikeout. The majesty of achieving a perfect game by throwing the ball up to 164km last season was evident.
Sasaki throws the fastest ball among pitchers in the NPB League. He was selected for the WBC national team and started alongside Yu Darvish (San Diego Padres), Shohei Ohtani (LA Angels), and Yoshinobu Yamamoto (Orix Buffaloes).
As much as he threw 160 km at the camp, the restraint at the main stage of the WBC, which will be held from March 8, is also a point to watch. It is evaluated that he will surpass last year’s power not only with a 160 km speed ball, but also with a high-speed slider and fork.