Hours before the Chiba Lotte Marines' game against the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters on Tuesday, pitcher Yoshihisa Naruse was the first player out of the dugout for stretching, with 18-year-old Yuki Karakawa hot on his heels.
It was a moment that may prove symbolic because Karakawa has Lotte supporters thinking he can follow Naruse, who came out of nowhere to set the Pacific League on fire with a 16-1 regular season in 2007, in more ways than one.
Early this season it's Karakawa who has left PL batters scratching their heads, and he didn't disappoint on Tuesday with an eight-inning, nine strikeout performance in the Marines' 8-2 victory over Hokkaido Nippon Ham.