Orix catcher Sho Fukunaga has declared that he is no longer just the "third-string catcher." He attended contract negotiations in Kochi City, where the team's fall training camp is held, and signed for a 17 million yen annual salary, an increase of 7 million yen. "Being able to spend a year on the first team was a great experience. The best thing was that I was ready to play in games," he said, exuding a sense of fulfillment. This season, his fourth as a pro, he was registered on the first team from the start of the season and for the first time completed the entire season without being removed from the roster. Although he only had a batting average of .152 in 39 games, he did hit his first professional Home Run in the game Rakuten on September 29th (Kyocera Dome Osaka).
Mori and Wakatsuki are the two main players at catcher position, and Wakatsuki has also been selected for Samurai Japan. In order to take part in high-level competition, it is essential to improve his batting ability. During the fall training camp, he received advice on his throwing from former manager Nakajima, who came to observe the team. "There were times when I was substituted midway through the season, so I want to play more games and do well. I don't want to be the third-string catcher forever. It's a competitive world, so there's no need to be shy. I have to make myself known and show it with results," he said emphatically.
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