Orix Buffaloes announced the signing of development player contracts with Hitomi Honda pitcher and Yuki Udagawa pitcher on August 8. number will wear "123" by Honda and "121" by Udagawa.

Honda joined Orix Buffaloes as the fourth pick in the 2017 draft, and in 2022 he pitched in 42 games, posting a record of 2 wins, 3 losses, 14 hold, 2 ERA of 3.50. He pitched in 23 games last season with a 2.86 ERA, but has not pitched in the first team this season. In the farm team, he pitched in 13 games with a 6.92 ERA. He was released from the roster after the season ended.

Udagawa joined Orix Buffaloes as the third pick in the 2020 development draft, and was registered as a controlled player in 2022. He pitched in 19 games that year, recording two wins, one loss, and three hold with ERA of 0.81, contributing to Orix Buffaloes 's consecutive league championships. In 2023, he was selected to represent Japan in the World Baseball Classic, contributing to the team's world championship, and pitched in a career-high 46 games that year. This season, he underwent Tommy John surgery on his right elbow in March and did not pitch in either the first or second team.