Form Analysis Reveals! Chunichi Nebo: “I’ll be the guardian god and save 30 games next season!

It was an impressive all-out straight game against the Giants’ No. 4.

The game was held on August 11 against the Giants. Akira Neo, 22, of Chunichi, took the mound in relief and threw a 149 km/h straight ball to Sho Nakata, the Giants’ main gunner, for a fly ball to center field from two balls and one strike. After the game, Nebo reflected on his match with Nakata, a senior at Osaka Toin High School.

I threw with all my might, as if I was borrowing from his chest. Even when I am not on the mound, I watch my seniors and study their pitches. It was good that I was able to incorporate what I had learned.”

Neo, who just switched from outfielder to pitcher in June, has pitched in 14 games and has a 2.63 earned-run average (as of August 15). At first, there were some who were concerned about his unusual switch, but I think it is fair to say that he has performed at a respectable level.

Nebo was once the winning pitcher at Koshien. After watching him pitch for the first time in several years, Takashi Kawamura, a leading sports science expert and associate professor at Tsukuba University, could not hide his surprise.

He said, “Even though there is a blank, his straight ball is still around 150 km/h. I feel that he is an extraordinary pitcher. I feel he is an extraordinary player.

The challenge is to pitch in the field.

Kawamura analyzed Neo’s pitching form again. Kawamura analyzed Nebo’s pitching form again and explained his strengths and challenges.

First, look at his posture (Photo 1) before he begins his pitching motion. His weight is on his right axis foot, and his posture is stable. After this, Neo starts by raising his left knee higher than his belt. Raising the leg that high usually causes the back to arch and disturbs the form, but Neo’s posture remains stable. This is evidence that his weight is firmly placed on his hip joints.

In Photos 2 and 3, the team can see some of the issues they need to work on.

In order to throw a powerful pitch, you have to use your lower body well, not your upper body. To throw a powerful pitch, you need to use your lower body well, not your upper body. However, Neo’s hips seem to remain in the direction of center. Perhaps this is due to the way he has learned to throw the ball as a fielder. A fielder must throw the ball as soon as he catches it. They naturally rely on their upper body and move quickly. This is fundamentally different from the way pitchers throw, which involves a slow weight shift.

Even so, in Photos 4 to 6, the weight is firmly placed on the left leg.

The inner strength of both legs has successfully corrected his form, which tends to rely on his upper body. I heard that Neo has been skiing since he was a child. I guess skiing has helped him strengthen the inside of his legs. It is also good that he is swinging his right arm down firmly, from directly above. At 177 cm tall, Nebo is small for a professional baseball player, but that is why he can throw a 150 km/h straight ball.

The characteristics of his pitching form suggest that Nebo is suited for suppression.

He is not able to shift his weight well, so if he pitches long innings as a starter, he will get tired. Currently, he is more suited for relief pitching. Despite his lack of experience, he can still throw a powerful straight ball. If he can learn to throw a curveball and other breaking pitches, he will be a great pitcher. If he becomes the guardian god next season, I think he can get 30 saves.

Pitcher Nebo’s ability seems to be genuine. Expectations are high for this big talent with a lot of room for growth.

From the September 2, 2022 issue of FRIDAY