Three professional players from the Tokyo Yakult Swallows visited Hamada Stadium in Harima on Nov. 3 to lead a youth baseball clinic.
The event, hosted by the Tokyo Yakult Swallows Supporters Association, provided instruction to middle school students from the local area.
Hyogo Yakult Sales Co., Ltd. said this session was the organization's first clinic in the Hyogo region in over a decade. The program aims to teach proper technique and the value of health through interaction with professional athletes.
The clinic featured Swallows players Yasutaka Shiomi (No. 9), Hiroki Onishi (No. 44), and Keiji Takahashi (No. 47). The trio provided hands-on guidance covering fundamental skills, including throwing mechanics, catch-ball, and batting practice.
The session concluded with an exhibition where local students faced off against Onishi in the batter’s box. The event also included a prize drawing, where participants received baseballs and bats signed by the visiting players.
Participants noted the impact of receiving direct advice from professional athletes. “It was a valuable experience to be taught techniques directly by professional baseball players,” one student told Hyogo Yakult Sales Co., Ltd. “I want to practice what I learned and improve.”
Another attendee expressed enthusiasm for the interaction, stating, “I was happy to talk to the Swallows players. I became a fan.”
The event was supported by the Harima town government. Hyogo Yakult Sales Co., Ltd. said that it intends to continue supporting local youth sports and community health initiatives.
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