I want to see Kosei Itsubo get a real shot in the first team.

When I watch Hanshin's farm team games, there is one player who has been on my mind for a long time.

Kosei Itsubo.

Or rather, I've been thinking about it since around last year.

"Shouldn't they be using him more in the first team?"

To be even more honest...

"Why aren't they using him!"

I sometimes think that (laughs).

Of course, I know there are circumstances only the coaching staff understands. Things like his daily condition or the specific roles required in the first team. There are surely many things I can't see just by watching from the outside. Still, I want them to give Itsubo-kun time to "gain experience in the first team," not just "gain experience in the farm team."

The appeal of Itsubo-kun isn't that just one thing stands out, but that he can hit, run, and field. Plus, he's a right-handed outfielder.

I think a right-handed outfielder with such high all-around ability is surprisingly valuable.

I sometimes think he might even be capable of a triple-three, though 30 home runs might be a stretch, right? Haha.

But if he continues to grow steadily, he could hit around .300, reach double-digit home runs, maybe even hit 20. Add 20 to 30 stolen bases to that, and he can play a solid center field.

I have high hopes that he has the potential to become that kind of player.

That is exactly why I want them to try using him in left field right now.

I'm not saying he should take center field away from Chikamoto-senshu right away. While Chikamoto-senshu is healthy, he can gain first-team experience in left field. If he can stand on his own as a first-team player there, he'll be ready to take over center field in the future if something happens to Chikamoto-senshu.

If Itsubo-kun moves to center, there's also Maekawa-senshu to fill the open left field spot.

When I think about it that way, I believe the first-team experience he gets now will benefit Hanshin years down the road.

At first, I'd want to let him hit freely in the 6th or 7th spot in the lineup. Personally, I wouldn't want to put him in the 2nd spot. I don't want him to start focusing on right-handed hitting and end up playing too conservatively.

Once he gets used to the first team and can really hit, he could be the leadoff hitter if something happens to Chikamoto-senshu. If his hitting power improves further, he could be 3rd. Of course, 6th, 7th, or 8th would be fine too.

It would be exciting if he became the kind of player you could put anywhere in the lineup without worry.

I don't think just any young player should be used in the first team. Even for players I like, if I think they still have things to work on in the second team, I want them to develop carefully there.

However, regarding Itsubo-kun, I think it might be time for him to move on to the next stage.

From producing results in the second team, to how to produce results in the first team.

Of course, this is just something I, as a Hanshin fan, am thinking about from the outside.

Even so, I want to see Itsubo-kun standing in left field at Koshien more often.

And someday...

"Who will be the next center fielder after Chikamoto?"

When that topic comes up, I want him to be a player where it's natural to say...

"We've got Itsubo."

I want him to become that kind of player.

I'm looking forward to that kind of future.

──Leaving the contents of an observer's mind here.