Hiroshima Carp Move Shun Okamoto to the Bullpen on a Temporary Basis Amid Relief Pitching Shortage

Hiroshima Toyo Carp right-hander Shun Okamoto will temporarily move to the bullpen as the team deals with a shortage of healthy relief pitchers.

The move was decided on August 11 after the Carp's game against the Yakult Swallows was canceled due to rain. Okamoto had been scheduled to start on August 13, but the rainout forced Hiroshima to reorganize its rotation, leaving his next start undecided.

Hiroshima manager Takahiro Arai explained that the move would be temporary.

"His condition has not been very good recently, so although this will be limited, we're going to put him in the bullpen. We're short on relievers right now," Arai said.

Okamoto, who converted from a relief role to the starting rotation this season, has been one of Hiroshima's most successful starting pitchers, leading the team with six wins.

However, he has not won since June 21 against Yakult and has failed to complete five innings in each of his last three appearances.

The 24-year-old right-hander also acknowledged that his recent pitching form has not been where he wants it to be.

"Recently, my pitches haven't been moving the way I want them to," Okamoto said. "I've been told to focus on being able to give 100 percent in short outings. I want to improve my feel and get back to where I need to be."

The move also comes at a difficult time for Hiroshima's bullpen.

Set-up man Taylor Hearn, along with Shota Nakazaki, Sotaro Shimauchi and Thomas Tarnok, are all currently dealing with injuries. The shortage of healthy relievers has become increasingly apparent during the team's recent struggles.

Hiroshima has lost five consecutive games, with late-inning pitching problems contributing to several of those defeats.

In contrast, the starting rotation is expected to receive reinforcements soon. Hiroki Tokoda is nearing a return from injury, while Shogo Tamamura has also made progress toward returning to game action.

That situation gives Hiroshima more flexibility to temporarily move Okamoto back into relief.

The move is also a return to familiar territory for Okamoto. Last season, before converting to the starting rotation, he made 41 appearances entirely as a reliever.

Pitching in shorter outings could allow him to focus on throwing with maximum intensity while also helping him regain his recent pitching form.

Hiroshima pitching coach Kikuhara also clarified that Okamoto is not being prepared primarily as a long reliever.

Instead, the Carp appear to be looking for him to provide short, high-intensity outings at a time when their bullpen is stretched thin.

For Hiroshima, the timing is particularly important.

The Carp are scheduled to play 26 games in September, including an eight-game stretch followed by a nine-game stretch, creating an extremely demanding schedule for the pitching staff.

With the team struggling at 18 games below .500, Hiroshima will need to maximize every available pitching option during the final stages of the season.

Okamoto's temporary return to the bullpen should therefore not be viewed simply as a demotion from the starting rotation.

Rather, it represents an attempt to solve two problems at once: helping a struggling young pitcher regain his form while providing immediate support to a depleted bullpen.

If Okamoto can rediscover his fastball and command in short outings, the move could become an important development for the Carp's pitching staff heading into the demanding weeks ahead.