Tomoyuki Sugano’s “Da no Ji” Delivery with the Orioles: A Model of Pitching Form

The “Da-no-Ji” pitching form is the ideal form

“It’s a textbook pitching form for any pitcher. It’s a throwing style that places little strain on the body, so he should be able to keep performing for years to come.”

So says motion analysis specialist Professor Takashi Kawamura of the University of Tsukuba’s School of Physical Education.

The form Kawamura highly praises belongs to Tomoyuki Sugano (35), who joined the Orioles this season. Despite playing for the Orioles, a team struggling at the bottom of the standings due to weak batting, Sugano has maintained solid numbers with a 4–3 record and a 3.08 ERA as of May 21. What is it about Sugano that allows him to stay effective even into his late 30s? Let’s take a look at a series of pitching form photos alongside Kawamura’s commentary.

Ideal style for Japanese

Let’s take a look starting from motion ①.

“His left knee is raised up to the chest, and his hips are fully expanded and firm. His weight is on his right leg, which is proof that his body is stable.”

At ②, Kawanaka points out what makes Sugano’s style stand out:

“Both arms extend parallel to the ground, with both legs symmetrically spread apart, forming the shape of a ‘大’ (dai, meaning big or large) character, like the kanji ‘大’. It’s a very well-balanced style. About two years ago, when he was struggling, it seemed his shoulder or elbow condition was poor, and his right hand rose late, so the ‘大’ shape wasn’t there. Now, his right hand rises early. While twisting his waist, his left foot points toward the catcher, allowing solid weight transfer toward the batter.”

At ③, notice the wrinkles on his uniform:

“The wrinkles are diagonal. This is because he rotates smoothly in order from hips → chest → shoulders. The power from his lower body is effectively transmitted to his upper body. From the start, his head position remains steady, and his right hand holding the ball is close to his line of sight, which helps maintain high pitching control.”

Number ④ shows a strength typical of Japanese pitchers:

“His right foot firmly steps on the ground and remains on the pitching plate, which prevents his body from lunging forward and ensures the weight rests on his hip joint. Many major league pitchers rely heavily on upper-body power and tend to lift their right foot. Sugano’s form, which keeps the right foot down and transfers weight after stepping forward, produces greater power and is ideal for Japanese pitchers.”

Points ⑤ and ⑥ are the culmination of the efficient movements up to ④:

“As mentioned in ②, since he raises his right hand early, at ⑤ you can see that he throws the ball from a high position. When he was not in good form, his hand rose late, so he couldn’t throw the ball from above. At ⑥, in the finish, his weight is on his left foot, and his body does not sway until the end. He swings his arm powerfully down, throwing a strong ball.”

Kawanaka gives Sugano his full endorsement:

“Even with the Orioles’ weak batting lineup, he should be able to win double-digit games. This season is his rookie year in the majors, so he’s still experimenting, but once he gets used to it, I think he can perform even better next season.”

Sugano’s pitching style, which produces results even as a veteran, is likely to be a great reference for Japanese pitchers aiming for the major leagues in the future.

— From the combined issues of ‘FRIDAY’ magazine, June 6 & 13, 2025 edition