Handing the ball to Yuki Nishi to start the season was probably a no-brainer for the Hanshin Tigers.
Nishi was a celebrated free-agent acquisition in the winter of 2018, when he switched his Kansai allegiances from the Orix Buffaloes to the Tigers. He was Hanshin's best pitcher in his first year with the club, winning 10 games with a 2.92 ERA (fifth-best in the Central League) and 1.13 WHIP in 172⅓ innings. After 10 seasons with the mostly moribund Buffaloes, with whom he reached the playoffs only once, Nishi helped Hanshin get to the final stage of the Climax Series last year.
Considering his success in 2019, Nishi likely entered spring camp eager to build upon it in 2020. The anticipation would've only grown as the calendar flipped to March and brought opening day, March 20, into sight. By then, the 29-year-old would be raring to get going.