Hiroto Ito, the Nippon-Ham Fighters pitcher set to start against the Lotte Marines on May 12 at ZOZO Marine Stadium, pledged on May 11 to fully embrace his Tuesday pitching duties. After weeks of expressing his desire to take the mound on Tuesdays, Ito finally secured the slot by starting four consecutive games on five days’ rest, transitioning from Saturday starts over four weeks to his new weekly anchor position.
“Honestly, I love it,” Ito said enthusiastically. “Being the first one out there for the week, thinking ‘Alright, let’s give it my all for the next seven days’—that’s special. I believe Tuesday’s result heavily influences the rest of the week’s outcomes. If I can create good momentum and a positive atmosphere at the start of the week, that’s the unique responsibility of a Tuesday starter. I want to fulfill that role.”
The right-hander conducted his final adjustments at ES CON Field on May 11, expressing confidence in his condition. “I feel absolutely fine,” he stated. Speaking about his first start of the season at ZOZO Marine, Ito emphasized the importance of reading the conditions quickly. “The key is how fast I can grasp the wind characteristics on that day. Before facing my first real challenge, I want to read the situation perfectly and deliver my pitches accordingly.”
