Rakuten Eagles pitcher Tomohito Sakai (32) attended contract negotiations at Rakuten Mobile Park Miyagi on the 3rd and signed a contract for an annual salary of 80 million yen (all amounts are estimates), maintaining his current salary. During contract negotiations last year, it was revealed that he had signed a multi-year contract.

He underwent Tommy John surgery on his right elbow in March of this year and is currently undergoing rehabilitation. He is recovering smoothly and is training hard with the goal of returning to his regular routine at camp in February of next year. "I feel very sorry for causing trouble for the team and for the club. All I have to do is play next season, so I will work hard on my rehabilitation so that I can repay the favor and contribute to the team," he said.