Seibu Lions' second-round draft pick, outfielder Seiya Watanabe (23), signed a contract renewal agreement at the team office in Tokorozawa, Saitama, on the 4th, for an annual salary of 31 million yen, an increase of 18.5 million yen (estimated amount).

After completing his first contract renewal since turning pro, Watanabe reflected, "I was really nervous at first, but they created a really easy environment for me to talk, and I was able to hear the team's evaluations and opinions, so it was a very fulfilling negotiation." In his first season as a pro, he was sidelined twice by injury, but still managed to appear in 109 games as starting line-up in left field, with 110 hit, 12 Home Run, and a batting average of .259.

After completing a year in which he played an active role as a key player, and looking ahead to his second year, he vowed, "This season I had double-digit Home Run and a batting average of .259, but I was sidelined twice, so next year I want to fight through the entire year without any sideline attempts, and do my best to surpass this season's results."