[The Hawks alumnus appears at the opening ceremony of the "Persol CS Pacific"] Today's Pacific League [October 1st] | Pacific League

The Hawks alumnus throws Pacific League today [October 1st]

Pacific League Insight

2025.10.1(水) 21:28

Nobuhiro Matsuda (left) and Seiichi Uchikawa (right) Ⓒ SoftBank HAWKS

Saitama Seibu Katsunori Hirai will not sign player contracts with 11 players, including Yoshinobu Mizukami, for next season.

Saitama Seibu is Katsunori Hirai pitcher, Yoshinobu Mizukami pitcher, Ren Omagari pitcher, Hiroki Inoue pitcher, Teruki Koga player, Kento Watanabe player, Kazuki Nomura player, Ryota Kawano player, Seiya Matsubara player, Montel player, Koichi Okumura The club announced that it will not be signing players to contracts for next season. Comments from each player are as follows:

▼Comment pitcher Hirai▼
"This year has been a really tough one. I feel frustrated, and I've felt like giving up many times, but I was able to get through it with the support of everyone on the team. They listened to me kindly and encouraged me, and when I got home and saw my family's faces, it motivated me to keep going. I feel like a lot has happened over the past nine years, but the most memorable moment was winning the league title in 2018 and 2019, and it was a valuable experience. I'm not sure what my future holds."

▼Comment from pitcher Mizukami▼
"This year, I performed well in the farm team, so I was hoping to somehow make it to the first team. However, from 2023 onwards, I wasn't able to throw the ball the way I wanted, and time just passed while I was trying and failing. Even in those times, I kept telling myself that someone was watching me, but I regret not being able to improve my output. I'm grateful to have been selected in the draft, and I'm happy that I was able to win a title with The Lions. I haven't decided what my future holds."

▼Comment pitcher Omagari▼
"Though I was doing well in the first half of the season, my condition started to deteriorate around September, and I struggled to get back to my previous form. When I joined the team, I envisioned a life as a professional baseball pitching on mound of the first team in front of many fans, but that didn't happen. I wanted to pitch on mound of the first team more often. I still vividly remember the day of my first appearance, and it was a tense mound that I will never experience again. I'm not sure what my future holds."

▼Comment from pitcher Inoue▼
"I was in good shape last year, so I wanted to continue like that, but this season I only had the opportunity to pitch in one game with the farm team. There were team circumstances, but I was in good physical condition, so it was just my own lack of ability. I'm very disappointed. I still remember the day I made my first professional appearance in 2021. I haven't decided what my future holds."

▼Comment from Hikaru Koga▼
"I feel sorry for everyone who has helped me up until now, as this is the result I have achieved in my first year with the team. When I joined the team, I wanted to perform well in the minor leagues before moving on to the major leagues, but I didn't get the results I wanted. Although it was a farm team game, I was happy to have hit home run. I haven't decided what my future holds."

▼ Comment from Ken Watanabe ▼
"I joined the team as the first pick in the draft, but I'm disappointed that I wasn't able to produce good results. Based on my results up until last year, I was given a bigger number this season, so I entered the season feeling that I had to do even more, but I wasn't able to give it my all in every aspect. Since my injury in 2023, I've been struggling to get a grip on my game, and I finally started to feel good towards the end of this year, so I wish I'd realized this sooner. My future plans are undecided."

▼Comment from Kazu Nomura▼
"This year I've been plagued by injuries and haven't been able to play as well as I'd like, so I was really happy to get one at-bat in the away game the other day. I'll never forget the encouragement I heard from my teammates from the bench. When I joined the team, I wanted to play in the first team, but I was made to face the harshness of being a professional. Over the past three years, I've met a lot of people and received a lot of kind words from them. I'm very grateful. I haven't decided what my future holds."

▼Comment fielder’s choice ▼
"I practiced hard to become a controlled player, and this year I went back to batting with both hands, but things didn't go as I had hoped. I remember my first pro starting line-up, my first hit, my first RBI, and all of that very well, and I was encouraged by the cheers of the fans. I'm grateful to my older teammates for showing me so much love. I haven't decided what my future holds."

▼Matsubara's comment▼
"I spent a long time in the minor league this year, and as the team was developing young players, I wasn't able to break into the team. The day after I was transferred, I had a press conference, and the day after that, I was selected as starting line-up. Although it was one of the few games I played in the major league, I think I was able to play my own baseball compared to last year, and to be honest, I felt that I still have a lot more to offer. I'm not sure what my future holds."

▼Montel's comment▼
"Despite spending last year's spring training camp with the A squad, I'm disappointed that I didn't make it to the first team at the start of the season, but I thought I couldn't lose in my third year as a development player, so I continued to play there. I became a controlled player in the summer and thought that this was finally the start, but I didn't have enough ability to compete in the first team, and I wasn't able to perform well. However, I remember one game in August this year against Fukuoka Softbank Hawks where I got a runner out after overrunning, and I was happy that I was able to make the 'situational judgment' that I've always been told about, and that I was able to demonstrate that on the first team stage. I'm not sure what my future holds."

▼Okumura's comment▼
"I wanted to improve my on-base percentage, batting average, and other areas that the team expected of me, but I didn't get the results I wanted, so it's frustrating. I also feel sorry for the team for having high hopes for me. Although it was only a short two years, being able to stand on the podium is my fondest memory. I'm not sure what my future holds."

Chiba Chiba Lotte Marines 's Manabu Mima tore his right elbow flexor tendon

Chiba Lotte Marines announced yesterday pitcher Manabu Mima, who started in his retirement game on September 30th, has been diagnosed with a ruptured right elbow flexor tendon. He will undergo surgery and aim for a full recovery.

▼Comment pitcher Mima▼
"I lost feeling in my elbow after the third pitch yesterday. I literally gave it my all until the very end, and I think I threw until I couldn't throw anymore. Thank you again for the past 15 years."

Chiba Lotte Marines to begin auditions for new members for "M☆Splash!!" in 2026 from October 6th

Chiba Lotte Marines will begin accepting auditions for new members for 2026 for the team's official cheer performers, "M☆Splash!!," from 12:00 on Monday, October 6th.

The application period is from 12 noon on Monday, October 6th until 11:59pm on Friday, October 17th, and the results of the first round of screening (document screening) are scheduled to be announced on Friday, October 24th. The second round of screening (practical examination) will then be held on either Friday, October 31st, Saturday, or Sunday, November 1st or 2nd, and the final round of interviews will be held on either Tuesday, November 4th or Wednesday, November 5th. For application eligibility, please visit the team's website.

▼2026 M☆Splash!! New Member Audition Overview▼
[How to apply]
Enter through the application form on the team's website
*Online application only

[Application period]
October 6, 2025 (Monday) 12:00 to October 17, 2025 (Friday) 23:59

[First screening: document screening]
Regardless of whether you pass or fail, the audition staff will contact you by email by Friday, October 24th.

[Second examination: Practical examination]
Participate on one of the following dates: Friday, October 31st, Saturday, November 1st, or Sunday, November 2nd

[Final examination: interview]
Participate on either November 4th (Tuesday) or 5th (Wednesday)

[Results Announcement]
The audition staff will contact you by email by November 12th (Wednesday) to let you know the results.

Fukuoka Softbank 's Seiichi Uchikawa and Nobuhiro Matsuda appeared at the opening ceremony of the "Persol CS Pacific"

Fukuoka Softbank announced that Seiichi Uchikawa will be the first pitch ceremony for the first game of the "2025 Persol Climax Series Pa" final stage to be held in MIZUHO PayPay Dome FUKUOKA, Leo Ieiri will be the solo singer of the national anthem, and Nobuhiro Matsuda will be the first pitch ceremony for the second game.

▼Mr. Uchikawa's comment▼
"As someone who has experienced the Climax Series, I am very excited to be at the center of that tense ground even after retirement, and I will do my best to pitch the start of the heated battle between the two teams fighting for the Japan series!"

▼Leo Ieiri's comment▼
"I was born and raised in Fukuoka. I have memories all over the city, both in MIZUHO PayPay Dome and in the sea of Momochihama. I am very honored to be able to sing the national anthem solo in such an important place. I want to sing with all my heart so that it will be a singing voice that will remain in everyone's hearts."

▼Mr. Matsuda's comment▼
"I am truly happy to be able to stand again in the form of the first pitch ceremony on this MIZUHO PayPay Dome, where I have spent many hot moments during my active career. I would like to throw a pitch with all my might with gratitude so that I can share the "passionate spirit" with the fans!　On the day of the event, please shout 'Hot man!'"