Orix Buffaloes Ryo Ota infielder (24) requested an "increase in side dishes" from the baseball team on the 12th. He went to Maishima, Osaka, for contract negotiations and renewed his contract with a salary of 70 million yen, an increase of 38 million yen (amount estimated). His appeal before his eighth year as a professional baseball player was to increase the "color" on the dining table at his home base, Kyocera D.

"I asked for more side dishes for the meal after the night game. There weren't many (varieties), so I wanted a few more... (laughs)." Ota is the type of person who likes to eat at the stadium after the game. "Before the game, there's loads of food, so I want them to provide that much so I can eat a little more," he pleaded, and the team apparently responded positively.

The 24-year-old, who is full of food, has also improved his performance as a baseball player. This season, he reached the required at-bat for the first time as a regular second baseman, and in 113 games, he had a batting average of 20.8.3%, which was the fourth highest in the league, and both marked his own highest 10 Home Run and 52 RBI. While promising a birthday present for his father, Akatsuki (54), who is in charge of the pitcher with a salary increase, he plans to do "joint" independent training in Ehime in January, saying, "My father has to improve (his condition) more, so he will go to camp (laughs)." Next season, when the number will change from 31 to 1, he set a goal of OPS (on-base percentage + slugging percentage) of 80% or more, saying, "I can leave an overwhelming result." (Shunta Minami)