Giants pitcher Shosei Togo (26) looked back on his remarkable performance at the Gifu Nagaragawa Stadium two years ago as he prepared for a potential start against the Hiroshima Carp on April 12. Togo, who practiced at the Giants Stadium on April 11, recalled his dominant outing on September 5, 2024, when he threw seven scoreless innings on four days’ rest at the ballpark beneath Gifu Castle—the historic stronghold of Oda Nobunaga. That victory secured his third consecutive double-digit win season and briefly lifted the Giants back to first place in the Central League.
“I have really good memories of Gifu,” Togo said. “Pitchers tend to remember bad things easily. I think it’s important to always focus on the positives.” After an offseason adjustment to his delivery, Togo began this season in the minors. He made his first-team debut on April 4 against the Yakult Swallows but took the loss after allowing five runs on six hits over five innings, with his velocity dipping later in the game. “There were some bad points, but also a few good ones,” he added. “I want to keep building on those, and the most important thing is for the team to win.”
During that memorable 2024 start, the game remained scoreless early on when manager Shinnosuke Abe told Togo, “You can only win 1–0.” Togo later smiled on the hero interview stand, saying, “He gave me a kick in the pants, so I’m glad we found a way to win.” The Giants have struggled in May with a 3–6 record. “I want to bring a win from the pitching side,” Togo vowed. Now he aims to motivate himself and capture his first victory of the season.
