Shota Hiranuma (28), outfielder was drafted by Seibu Lions Lions to join Orix Buffaloes, held a press conference at the team's facility in Maishima, Osaka, on the 16th. He confirmed his current position, saying, "I haven't been able to break out of my shell since I became a pro." He also stated his goal: "To threaten my senior at Tsuruga Keihan High School, Nishikawa!"

"I want to do well enough to take number 7 away. I'm not saying I want it, but..." Next season's number will be "61," which he will take over from Chano, who moved to Seibu Lions in the same active draft. Nippon-Ham In the 10 years he has been with Seibu Lions, he has neither won a championship nor reached the regulation batting average, and he is super serious: "It's a career high for me in every way.

Among the active fielder, Hosokawa (DeNA → Chunichi) and Mizutani (Softbank Hawks → Nippon-Ham) have blossomed in their new homes. Hiranuma's strength is that he can play any position except catcher, shortstop, and center field. He and Nishikawa are both left-handed hitter, and are members of the joint voluntary training centered around Softbank Hawks 's Kondo. "That's really funny," said Nishikawa, delighted with their "teamwork." He has one of the best singing voices in the baseball world, and his wife is the talent Morisaki Tomomi. "I was like, 'They decided so suddenly?' but I was listening to 'Osaka LOVER' at night. I was really excited to go," he said, drawing laughs. He's still only 28 years old. He will awaken his potential and turn it into a huge success story. (Osada Toru)