SoftBank Hawks pitcher Liván Moinelo (30) is set to make his first game appearance since returning to Japan, as he will pitch in a third-team game against the Shikoku Island League Plus side Ehime on the 14th at Tama Stadium Chikugo. The left-handed ace of the Hawks participated in a designated pitcher training session at Mizuho PayPay Dome on the 11th. SoftBank’s chief pitching coach, Kurano, who observed the session, commented, “We are just checking his current condition, seeing how far he can go in a game.” Moinelo is expected to throw around 60 pitches as a guideline.
Moinelo, who represented Cuba in this spring’s World Baseball Classic (WBC), arrived in Japan just before the start of the regular season at the end of March. He has been adjusting to enter the season in peak form. On the 8th, he threw in a live batting practice session. Manager Kokubo noted, “It won’t be too long before he gets a chance to pitch in the first team,” suggesting that Moinelo will return to the top-level mound after building up his condition through minor league games.