Rakuten Pitcher Ito Starts, Tatsumi Hits Home Run
Listen to the story
Itsuki Ito started a recent game as the starting pitcher for the Rakuten Eagles.
The Rakuten Eagles are a team in Nippon Professional Baseball, the top baseball league in Japan.
A starting pitcher is the player who throws the first pitch of the game.
In the same game, Rakuten player Ryosuke Tatsumi hit his 14th home run of the season.
A home run happens when a player hits the ball so far that they can run all the way around the bases.
Tatsumi hit the ball toward right-center field, which is the area between right field and center field.
He was able to do this by using the head of the bat well during his swing.
After the game, Tatsumi spoke about his hit.
He said he was thankful for his own potential, meaning his natural ability to succeed.
This comment suggests he was pleased with his performance and growth as a player.
Ito's role as starting pitcher and Tatsumi's home run were both highlights of the game for the Rakuten Eagles.
Japanese professional baseball is very popular, and fans closely follow player performances like these.
Vocabulary6 words
- starting pitcher
- the player who begins the game by throwing the ball
- Nippon Professional Baseball
- the top baseball league in Japan
- home run
- a hit strong enough to score a run by circling all the bases
- right-center field
- the area of the field between right field and center field
- head
- the top part of a bat that hits the ball
- potential
- a person's ability to do well in the future
📚 Ready to use these words in a real conversation?
Practice live with a real tutor on Preply.
Quiz
Answer key
1. Starting pitcher 2. Right-center field 3. 14
✅ Nice work on the quiz!
Keep the momentum going — book a live English lesson with a Preply tutor.
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Itsuki Ito started a recent game as the _____ pitcher for the Rakuten Eagles.
The Rakuten Eagles are a team in Nippon _____ Baseball, the top baseball league in Japan.
A starting pitcher is the player who throws the first _____ of the game.
In the same game, Rakuten player Ryosuke Tatsumi hit his 14th _____ of the season.
A home run happens when a player hits the ball so far that they can run all the way around the _____.
Tatsumi hit the ball toward right-center _____.
He was able to do this by using the _____ of the bat well during his swing.
He said he was thankful for his own _____, meaning his natural ability to succeed.
Ito's role as starting pitcher and Tatsumi's home run were both _____ of the game.
Discussion questions
- Why do you think starting pitchers are important for a baseball team?
- What does it mean when a player says they are thankful for their 'potential'?
- How popular do you think professional baseball is in Japan? Why?
- Have you ever watched a baseball game? What did you think of it?
🎓 Enjoyed this story?
Turn today's reading into real speaking practice with a live Preply tutor.
