On the first day of training camp at the Los Angeles Angels facility in Arizona, Yusei Kikuchi displayed both passion and strategic intent as he prepared for the World Baseball Classic (WBC) scheduled to start on March 5. Despite the hot weather, Kikuchi expressed excitement about getting back to baseball quickly, emphasizing his desire to refine his performance ahead of the international competition.

Kikuchi's practice diverged from the norm, as most pitchers concluded their sessions after bullpen throwing. Instead, he opted to engage in a live batting practice session, throwing a total of 49 pitches to 13 batters after initially tossing around 30 pitches in the bullpen. His approach highlighted not just a display of strength but a focus on purposefulness with each pitch, indicating his desire to hone in on precision and effectiveness.

Among the pitches he focused on was his fastball, which he threw a total of 43 times during the session. This dedication from Kikuchi reflects his commitment to achieving peak performance as he prepares for one of the prestigious events in international baseball, aiming to not only contribute to his team's success but also to enhance his individual standing on the global stage.