Rakuten Eagles Eagles infielder Rui Muneyama (22) attended contract negotiations at Rakuten Eagles Mobile, the team's home stadium, on the 18th and signed a contract for 40 million yen, an increase of 24 million yen (all figures are estimates).

Despite being a rookie this season, he earned a starting starting line-up on opening day and played in 122 games. He also reached the required number of plate appearances and became the first rookie in Pacific League in 44 years to win the Best Nine award as short stop. He finished with a batting average of .260, 27 RBI, and 3 Home Run, and although he missed out on the Rookie of the Year award, he showed great promise in his first year. Looking ahead to next season, he vowed to become a batter that opponents dislike and fear, and to be able to hit for more power, promising to grow even further.