[Exclusive Interview] “Just Watching Mr. Kuriyama”—What Sparked the Breakout of Seibu’s New Addition, Taiga Hirasawa

“I’m lucky to have been given this chance”

“Right now, the team is in great shape and in the running for the championship. As we head into the summer, it’s going to get pretty hot here at this stadium (Belluna Dome). I want to make this a year where I contribute to the team until the very end, without letting my performance slip.”

Speaking with a determined expression is Taiga Hirasawa (28) of the Saitama Seibu Lions.

Now in his second season with Seibu, he made an immediate impact after being promoted to the first team on April 5.In April, he appeared in 14 games, recording 17 hits in 47 at-bats for a .362 batting average. With one home run and five RBIs, he led the Seibu lineup as the undisputed No. 6 hitter. Now in his 11th professional season, it’s safe to say he has finally come into his own.

While attending Sendai Ikuei High School in Miyagi Prefecture, he hit three home runs at the 2015 Summer Koshien Tournament. Although his team lost in the final to Tokai University Sagami High School from Kanagawa Prefecture—led by Shinnosuke Ogasawara (currently with the Giants, 28)—he made a name for himself nationwide as a player who electrified the tournament.

In that year’s draft, he was selected as the first-round pick by two teams and joined the Lotte Marines. As a large-framed infielder, he carried high expectations to become the face of the franchise. However, over the course of nine years, he appeared in only 306 first-team games, and his career batting average remained below .200.

The turning point for Hirasawa, whose playing career was in jeopardy, came on December 9, ’24, when he was traded to the Saitama Seibu Lions via the active player draft.

“I was mentally prepared, thinking, ‘I’ll probably be selected [in the active player draft].’ However, since the Seibu Lions weren’t winning much that season (49 wins, 91 losses, and 3 ties—finishing last in the league), I actually thought it might be a great opportunity. I felt lucky to be picked up by such a good team,” he said.

However, last year he was removed from the roster on opening day due to a sudden lower back sprain. The injury flared up again in the summer, and he was unable to contribute much throughout the entire year. Perhaps because of that, even when he’s in good form, Hirasawa remains cautious.

“I absolutely don’t want to be sidelined by an injury, so I see the trainers every day and take good care of my body. As for my baseball, I can’t afford to stop hitting, so I have to deliver results at the plate. I’m not a home run hitter. In practice, instead of hitting high fly balls, I focus on hitting strong line drives that slip through the outfield gaps.I think I’ve been able to do that in games this year.

One of my strengths is that I can play various defensive positions, so I approach each game with the mindset of playing solid defense wherever a spot opens up, and on top of that, delivering results at the plate.”

However, his performance has been on a downward trend since May. In May, he batted .253. He missed the game on June 7 due to lower back stiffness. Even so, on the day of this interview (June 11), he returned to the starting lineup for the first time in five days and recorded two hits. He immediately delivered results.

“Even though he’s a veteran player, he’s like that.”

What exactly is the difference compared to his time with the Lotte Marines? In an interview with “Bunka Hoso” released on May 29, Hirasawa had this to say.

“Last year, right after I joined the Lions at spring training—back when I was on the Lotte farm team—Mr. Nishiki (Toshihisa, Chief Hitter and Hitting Coach, 54) was the DeNA farm team manager. He pointed out things he’d noticed while watching me, and I’ve been working on those points ever since.(…) It was a different perspective from my time with Lotte, and I’ve been taking that advice to heart and working on it step by step.”

Other than that, he says he doesn’t feel much difference from his time with the Lotte Marines.

“It’s similar. There are a lot of young players, and there’s an atmosphere where the team pulls together as one. It feels similar in that once we get on a roll, we really take off. I think the relaxed atmosphere—where I feel supported by everyone’s momentum—is what makes it so good.”

Hirasawa says the veteran players, who are the face of the team, also have a big influence.

“It’s amazing to watch Mr. Kuriyama (Takumi, 42). It really comes down to preparation. He swings the bat incredibly hard even during practice. Even while we’re doing fielding and baserunning drills, he’s hitting off the batting machine for about an hour. I was truly surprised to see a veteran like him practicing that much.

Back in my Lotte days, Kazuya Fukuura (50) also practiced batting a lot, and I saw Kei Toritani (44) training stoically from early in the morning. I was genuinely impressed. Now, just being able to watch Kuriyama practice up close is something I’m truly grateful for.I truly believe that preparation and the volume of practice are what matter most.”

There’s another factor behind his strong performance. At the end of the year before last, after transferring to Seibu, he married an older woman he met outside the baseball world. He says his daily life with his wife has had a major impact not only on his physical condition but also on his mental state.

“My body has changed thanks to her support with my diet. My muscle mass has increased and my body fat percentage has decreased. I’m in really great shape now. I do train, but I think diet plays a big role. I almost never eat out. Basically, I eat at home, and maybe once a month when I go into Tokyo, I’ll think, ‘Maybe I’ll eat out.’ I don’t drink alcohol either.

On my days off, I just stay home and do nothing. I don’t have any hobbies, and I don’t watch TV either. I just zone out, and before I know it, the day is over. She really supports me in every way so I can focus solely on baseball.”

As a member of a team aiming for the league championship and the Japan Series title, Hirasawa has become an indispensable presence—we look forward to his continued success.