On the 5th, Softbank announced that Akira Nakamura underwent a successful transforaminal total endoscopic discectomy (TF-FED) at a hospital in Amagasaki City for a herniated right lumbar disc in the third and fourth vertebrae. He is expected to return to competition in two to three months.

Akira Nakamura was expected to have more opportunities to pinch-hitter this season, his 18th year as a professional, but due to a series of injuries he was often in the starting starting line-up, appearing in 116 games. He finished with a batting average of .240, Home Run, and 34 RBI.