Rakuten Eagles manager Hajime Miki (48) has expressed his intention to keep the competition going until the very end for next season's closer. Prior to the training camp this season, he selected pitcher Takahiro Norimoto (34), taking into consideration his track record of 32 saves in the 2024 season, which led to him being named Pacific League most saves leader. However, due to his lack of consistency pitch, midway through the season, pitcher Sora Suzuki (29) and Shoma Fujihira pitcher 27) were entrusted with the ninth inning. "I'm not sure what the current situation is, but I'll have a thorough discussion with pitcher coach and the team," he said, indicating that he will not make a decision early on, but will wait until spring training begins in February of next year to decide.
Fujihira, who served as the team's guardian angel towards the end of the season and was selected for Samurai Japan, is currently breaking the team record with 29 consecutive games without runs. Suzuki Sho, who underwent surgery in October to remove ossification of the thoracic yellow ligament, a nationally designated incurable disease, is also progressing well and will be a candidate once he returns to action. Other candidates include pitcher Masaya Nishigaki (26), who pitched in the team's most games this season with 63, and pitcher Katsutoshi Tai (22), who closer in the farm team and made his first-team debut. "If Norimoto stays, the story will be different. We'll check various things and hopefully he can fit in smoothly," said the manager. The team is carefully assessing the important players who will play a role in closing out games.
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