"I haven't had many at-bats, but we haven't had any team batting or strategy-related failures this year. In that sense, I think I've been able to fulfill my role. Even when I was demoted to the minor leagues, I was able to play in games among a variety of players, so I think it's been a beneficial year for me."

Lotte's Kenta Chatani summed up his year this way: He had played in the first team for two consecutive years since 2011, but this season he missed out on the opening day first team and played in 43 games, batting .222 RBI.

"Whether or not a player plays in a game is not something that a player can control, so when I did play in a game, I was able to do some kind of team batting, like an end run or a bunt, and I also made pinch-hit bunts without making any mistakes, so I think it was good."

Looking ahead to next season, he said, "Every day is a battle, so when I'm on the field, I just want to think about how I can get results." He added, "What I do hasn't changed in the last few years. There's no doubt that my chances are limited, like when I come on defense and get to bat, so I want to do my best to change the game with that one at-bat."