Hiroshima Carp’s Shōdai Suekane Targets More Home Runs: “I’m Not a Player Who Relies on Batting Average”
October 17, 2026
Hiroshima Carp outfielder Shōdai Suekane is making power hitting his top priority this offseason. After hitting two home runs in just 16 first-team appearances late this season, the 30-year-old believes his strength lies in his power rather than his batting average. His next challenge is learning how to turn his improved physical strength and faster swing into more consistent results.
Hiroshima Carp outfielder Shōdai Suekane, 30, took part in an individual training session at Mazda Stadium on October 14, identifying improved power hitting as his main focus for the fall workouts beginning the following day.
After being promoted to the first team late in the season, Suekane hit two home runs in 16 appearances. Power is his greatest strength, and he intends to spend the offseason refining it by putting in extensive work with the bat.
As he prepares for a crucial season next year, Suekane is determined to sharpen his biggest weapon.
“I'm not a player who competes on batting average. I want to hit more home runs,” he said, making clear his commitment to improving his power and producing more extra-base hits.
Suekane earned his first promotion of the season on September 18. Two days later, against Chunichi, he hit his first home run of the year, a solo shot over the right-field fence.
He finished with two home runs in 16 games. For a team that has struggled to generate power, those towering hits were a reminder of his potential as a genuine power hitter.
During his extended stint with the farm team, Suekane continued training diligently. Despite being in the middle of the season, he added three kilograms of muscle mass. Measurements provided by the team's analysts also confirmed a clear improvement in his swing speed, demonstrating tangible physical progress.
The next challenge is learning how to translate that added power into results at the plate.
Although his swing speed has increased, his bat sometimes takes an unnecessarily long route to the ball.
“In the end, it's about having the technique to make use of that power. That's what I want to work on,” he said.
During the fall workouts beginning October 15, Suekane plans to seek advice from hitting coach Ryō and the rest of the coaching staff. He will work on hitting slower pitches and take batting-practice swings off a tee as he refines his mechanics and develops a better feel for his swing.
His slugging percentage this season was just .288. In 2023, when he hit 11 home runs, he posted a career-best .554 slugging percentage.
A home run can change the course of a game with a single swing, and Suekane believes its impact extends beyond the scoreboard.
“The atmosphere is definitely better when you hit a home run. That really stood out to me again,” he said.
With the ability to energize both the team and the crowd, Suekane is determined to combine his physical power with improved hitting technique and turn the offseason into a productive step toward a more powerful 2027 campaign.