The Seibu ace (Min Chang-ki's Japanese baseball team) who runs 156 kilometers per hour against Doosan and 158 kilometers against the Netherlands a week later

Mar 06, 2025

Imai, who scored two scoreless innings against the Netherlands on the 5th. He shot a maximum of 158 kilometers twice on the day. Photo Camera = Japan Baseball Team's website

Imai started the final against APBC Korea in November 2023 and allowed two runs in four innings. Noh Si-hwan hit a two-run double off Imai. Photo Camera = Japan Baseball Team's website

Seibu's ace, Yimai. Following last year, he was appointed as the starting pitcher for the opening game this year. Photo capture = Seibu Lions SNS

Right-hander Tatsuya Imai (27) of the Seibu Lions threw a fastball of up to 156 kilometers per hour against the Doosan Bears on the 26th of last month. He went to a practice game in Miyazaki and blocked three scoreless innings. He struck out four times in a row from the leadoff hitter in the first inning. In his first foreign game this year, he struck out six out of nine outs without four pitches. Last year, he produced an overwhelming performance worthy of the No. 1 strikeout in the Pacific League.

He said he changed his pitching form to narrow his stride and threw a two-seam fastball as a test. pitcher legend Fumiya Nishiguchi, who posted a career '182 wins', said "I can't say that I'm at that level at this time."," he said with a thumbs up.

There is a reason why Seibu ace Imai raised his pace faster than usual. He was scheduled to take the mound as a member of the Japanese baseball team and Samurai Japan. He checked his ball power against Doosan and once again showed an overwhelming ball power.

Osaka Kyocera Dome on the 5th, when the warm-up match against the Netherlands was held. Pitchers were followed by good pitching. First, left-hander Hiroya Miyagi (24). The Orix Buffaloes ace blocked three perfect innings. Throwing 40 pitches, he struck out four. He hit nine batters in a row.

In the sixth inning with a 1-0 lead, Imai took the mound as the fourth pitcher. Two innings of no hit, three strikeouts and no runs. He gave up a walk after one out in the sixth inning and returned five consecutive hitters.

He threw only a fastball against the first batter. He struck out swinging with a fastball of 154 kilometers per hour. He then hit his second batter and hit 158 kilometers per hour. The stands at the Kyocera Dome in Osaka were buzzing. Imai caught the first two batters with three pitches in the seventh inning. With the slider, strike out the last batter with a swing and miss, and

Miyagi started against the Netherlands on the 5th. He shut down three perfect innings. Photo Camera = Japan Baseball Team's website

It's done.

In particular, the fastball was powerful. Of the total 26 pitches, 14 were fastballs, with 13 pitches hitting the mid-to-late 150km/h. He recorded a maximum of 158 kilometers twice, raising expectations for this season.

On March 28, he was named the starting pitcher for the regular season opener against the Nippon Ham Fighters. He will start the opening game for the second consecutive year following last year.

Last year, when he was in his 8th year of joining the team, he shot 'Career High'. He pitched 173 ⅓ innings, the most in a season, won double-digit games for the second consecutive year, and posted a 2.34 ERA (3rd) with 187 strikeouts. His team hit the floor with a '91 loss' but stood tall as an ace. Imai is Seibu's core power that aims to make another leap under Nishiguchi's leadership.

The first goal this year is team performance. I also have a personal dream. It's a major league challenge. Many fans already draw Imai throwing in the Major League on their heads.

Photo camcure=Japan national baseball team homepage

Imai has ties to Korea. He started the Asian Baseball Championship (APBC) against South Korea in the final in November 2023. He allowed five hits and two runs in four innings. Noh Si-hwan hit a two-run double in the middle of the third inning with one out and runners on the first and second bases.

Reporter Min Chang-ki huelva@sportschosun.com

This article was translated by Naver AI translator.