But the Canberra Cavalry pitcher has gone out of his comfort zone to immerse himself in everything Canberran.

The 25-year-old sees his trip Down Under as more than just a chance to work on his curveball.

It's also a cultural exchange where he can learn about Australian life. And work on his English in the process.

While the Baystars organise an apartment for the players they send to the Cavalry, he asked to be billeted out to a Canberra home.

"I asked to stay with a homestay to learn the culture more directly and I thought it would help me learn English more quickly," Ohnuki said through an interpreter.

"It's been awesome. There's not much opportunity to feel the cultural difference if you only live in Japan.

"This was a great opportunity so I was very, very grateful that I could be part of it.

"I think this is going to help me and also the team [by] knowing other cultures - we have different guys in the team at the Baystars too so this is going to help the team too eventually."

He's already had a positive start to his time in Canberra, re-signing with the Baystars for the 2020 Nippon Professional Baseball season after he arrived in the ACT.

The new contract comes after the No.3 draft pick played 15 games for Yokohama this year for an earned-run average of 5.00.

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He's one of three Baystars currently with the Cavalry, along with Kosuke Sakaguchi and Takamasa Kasai, while fellow Yokohama pitcher Shingo Hirata will arrive ahead of the fourth round.

"I'm lucky to renew my contract. It became something unforgettable because I'm a rookie and this was my first time re-signing," Ohnuki said.

"It doesn't really matter where [I re-signed], because it was my first time. I've never done it in Japan either.

"It was something very memorable either way."

Along with mastering English, the right-hand pitcher has come with some specifics he wants to master on the diamond as well.

He's come looking for southpaw hitters to practice against.

It's not something he'll get much chance to do against the Melbourne Aces at Narrabundah Ballpark in the opening series of the ABL.

They have just two left-handed hitters on the roster and one switch hitter - someone who can bat both left and right.

But he'll have a better chance of practicing against power hitters, with the Aces boasting Australian international Luke Hughes in the line-up.

Ohnuki was on the verge of making the Japanese squad and he was hopeful his time honing his craft in the ACT will help him force his way in.

"My weakness is facing lefty hitters. That was a big thing from during the season," he said.

"I want to try a lot of things against lefties, find some keys to establish good lefty handling skills that will be useful for next year.

"Facing hitters with power was my weakness too and coming here guys have got power and I can face a lot of them to overcome my weaknesses."

ABL ROUND ONE

Thursday: Canberra Cavalry v Melbourne Aces at Narrabundah Ballpark, 7pm. Game two Friday 7pm; game three Saturday 7pm; game four Sunday 1pm. Tickets from canberracavalry.com.au.