147 km/h Velocity and Elite “Adjustment Ability” Shine (Feb 15, Naha)

On February 15 in Naha, the Yomiuri Giants faced the Hiroshima Toyo Carp in a preseason practice game.

The Giants fell 2–4.

But the real story wasn’t the score.

It was rookie first-round pick Kazuyuki Takemaru.

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Takemaru’s Pitching Line

• 2 innings pitched
• 2 hits allowed
• 0 runs
• 1 strikeout
• Top velocity: 147 km/h (91 mph)

For a rookie in just his second live outing of camp, the performance carried real weight.

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First Inning: Trouble — Then Immediate Correction

Takemaru opened with back-to-back hits, including contact from
Shogo Sakakura, putting runners in scoring position.

Many rookies unravel here.

He didn’t.

Instead, he induced a 5-4-3 double play off Seiya Akiyama and escaped the inning scoreless.

👉 This was the defining moment of his outing.

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Second Inning: Clean and Controlled

The adjustment was visible.

• Faster strike attacks
• Improved command
• Smoother tempo

Three up, three down.

That sequence proved something more important than velocity:
he can recalibrate mid-game.

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Why His Evaluation Just Jumped

On social media, reactions were strong:

• “That adjustment ability is unreal.”
• “Game-ready mentality.”
• “He might crack the rotation.”

Takemaru graded himself at “60 out of 100.”
Observers clearly disagreed.

Pitching coach Toshiya Sugiuchi described him as having a “special ability.”

Even opposing scouts reportedly noted:

• “Difficult to time.”
• “Could enter the rotation mix.”

When rival evaluators start talking in mid-February, that matters.

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What Did Sugiuchi Mean by “Special Ability”?

Sugiuchi isn’t impressed by radar guns alone.
147 km/h is solid—but that’s not the point.

① Rapid In-Game Adjustment

• Behind in counts early
• Didn’t rush tempo
• Didn’t alter mechanics
• Simply refined pitch location

By the second trip through the lineup, he looked settled.

That kind of correction isn’t easily taught.

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② Emotional Stability on the Mound

Typical rookie reactions:

• Visible frustration
• Elevated fastballs
• Rushed mechanics

Takemaru showed none of that.

No fist pumps.
No visible panic.
Just execution.

For Sugiuchi, that composure is gold.

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③ Hitter-Oriented Pitching

Opposing evaluators used the phrase:

“Hard to get the timing down.”

His delivery is repeatable, yet the ball appears late.
That deception—combined with consistent mechanics—is a rare blend.

Sugiuchi built his career on disrupting hitters’ comfort.
He likely sees echoes of that trait here.

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The Bigger Question: Is He a Real Rotation Candidate?

Right now, the answer is simple:

He’s officially in the conversation.

Two innings don’t guarantee anything—but:

• Velocity plays at the top level
• Adjustments are instinctive
• Mental baseline is stable

Those are rotation-level traits.

The next test?
Stretching from 2 innings to 5.

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Inside the “Sugiuchi Development Plan”

Sugiuchi’s philosophy is clear:

① Lock in Repeatable Mechanics First

Before chasing higher velocity:

• Can he repeat the same form every pitch?
• Does the arm slot stay stable under pressure?
• Does command survive adversity?

Takemaru passed that test in Naha.

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② Refine Quality Before Adding Weapons

Young pitchers often want:

• More breaking balls
• More strikeouts
• A flashy out pitch

Sugiuchi’s approach is the opposite:

“Perfect your strike-getters first.”

For Takemaru, that means:

• Fastball quality
• First-pitch strikes
• Lower-zone precision

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③ The Five-Inning Standard

Rotation pitchers must:

• Hold velocity through 5 innings
• Survive a second time through the order
• Manage pitch count (target: ~80 pitches)

That’s the next benchmark.

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④ Don’t Over-Coach the Mind

Sugiuchi’s subtle strength:

• He doesn’t micromanage mentality
• He allows pitchers to self-correct
• He lets mistakes become lessons

Takemaru’s natural adjustment ability fits this philosophy perfectly.

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Final Take: From Prospect to Usable Asset

February 15 in Naha wasn’t just a practice game.

It marked a shift.

Takemaru moved from:
“Interesting talent” → “Potential rotation weapon.”

He’s not there yet.

But if he clears the 5-inning hurdle during open games,
an Opening Day rotation push becomes very real.

Under Sugiuchi’s steady framework—
focused on repeatability over hype—
Takemaru isn’t being rushed.

He’s being built to last.

And that makes this story far more compelling than a single radar reading. ⚾🔥