Jay Jackson likes being a relief pitcher. He also likes being a relief pitcher in Japan, which is convenient, since the 30-year-old is in the middle of his third season with the Hiroshima Carp.
Jackson has seen a lot during his time in NPB, and has come to understand the small differences between doing the job in Japan vs. in North America.
"Being a reliever here, you have to be able to read hitters," Jackson told The Japan Times. "There's only two types of hitters here, there's the slap guys and then there are the power guys. You gotta read the hitters and see what kind of swings they're taking off you and how they've been swinging all game. For me, being a reliever, you just gotta throw strikes."