On the 6th, Orix Buffaloes Buffaloes pitcher Soichiro Yamazaki (27) declared that he would "reclaim his place in the original lineup!" He participated in an event hosted by Colantotte in Kadoma City, Osaka, and enjoyed interacting with fans during the off-season. "Some people come like this, and when I see them, I feel that I have to pitch more in the first team and do well," he said, renewing his resolve and also mentioning the annual event.

This season, after pitching in 28 games, he fell from first place for the second year in a row to third place in the "Original Member Voting" where female fans choose their favorite player. While he was aiming for a third consecutive victory and a "Hall of Fame" induction, he said with a wry smile, "If I'd come from first to second place I'd understand, but coming from first to third... It's really embarrassing." "Nothing beats first place (laughs). The wall is high, but I'll do my best to overcome it." He envisioned a return to the throne, closer "rivals" Hirooka in first place and Miyagi in second place.

"Being ranked that high means I'm doing well. I want to work hard so I can balance that with baseball." Next season, his 10th year as a professional, he aims to pitch in more than 50 games for the first time since 2013. His 160 km/h right-handed pitcher will captivate the Orihime fans with his "beautiful hard fastball." (Nambu Shunta)