Orix Buffaloes Keita Nakagawa infielder held contract negotiations at the team's facility in Maishima, Osaka, on April 12, and signed a contract with a salary of 100 million yen, an increase of 30 million yen (estimated amount). This is his seventh year as a professional baseball player.

This season, he played in 119 games as a regular outfield, posting a batting average of .284, third in the league, tying his career high with 12 Home Run and 53 RBI. He bounced back from last year, when he only played in 60 games, to receive his first Best Nine award. "The best thing this year was that I was able to play in the first team without any injuries. I'm not at all satisfied with my performance. My goal for next year is to minimize the fluctuations in my performance throughout the season, and to make adjustments in that area," he reflected.

Nakagawa, who will turn 30 in April next year, emphasized, "Individual results are important, but I also want to help the team win, and I think that this will lead to good results, one day at a time." The versatile hitter, described by former manager Nakajima as "the invincible Nakagawa," is aiming for even greater heights.