On the 19th, Seibu Lions Lions underhand right-handed pitcher Kaito Yoza (30) welcomed the signing of former The Giants pitcher Rei Takahashi (30), whose signing of a development player contract for next season was announced on the 16th.

The right-hander worked out at the team's facility in Tokorozawa, Saitama, on this day. Last offseason, Takahashi and DeNA's Sasuke Nakagawa and Yakult Shimokawa held an "Underthrower's Group" to exchange information. Since underthrowing is a rare and valuable pitching technique, Takahashi said, "I'm very happy. I don't know if I'm saying it right, but I have one more person who understands my feelings, or someone I can relate to.

"Two underhand pitchers on one team" is a rare case even in the baseball world, but he firmly states, "I don't really think of them as rivals." "I'm not the type to look around and compete, I think it's about how I can improve my own abilities little by little. People around me will compare me, but I don't think of them as rivals that much, rather I think of them as friends who share the same sense." As classmates, he is determined to help each other improve and lead the team to a comeback from this season's fifth place finish.