Orix Buffaloes ・ Kaito Saiki pitcher (25), who underwent arthroscopic osteophytectomy and free bone fragmentectomy of the right elbow on October 30, resumed catch playing ball at the team's facility in Maishima, Osaka, on October 19, checking his form pitch at a distance of about 20 meters. I'm not that bad," he nodded. The first time I saw him, I thought he was a good player.

After the surgery, he consulted with his trainer and completed a rehabilitation program. His return to throwing was slightly later than originally planned, but he said, "I don't want to rush it and have to undergo another surgery. I want to make sure I'm fully recovered so I can throw again." He has been steadily making adjustments. During the no-throw period, he sought advice from Yamamoto, who is two years younger than him, and improved the way he uses his right arm. He plans to gradually increase the intensity of his throwing, with the possibility of joining bullpen during the Miyazaki camp in February in mind.

This season, his third year as a professional, he was promoted for the first time on June 14th and completed the entire season without being removed from the roster once. He pitched in 38 games, mainly as part of the winning lineup, and achieved his best results with 2 wins and 1 loss, including his first professional win, 11 hold, 4 ERA 1.87. He has decided to participate in the Osaka City Fire Department's New Year's Parade in January next year for the second year in a row. "I said I would go myself. This year I did a lot of firefighting (laughs). I want to do my best as a 'firefighter of the olympiad' again next year," he said with the humor of a Kansai native. (Nambu Shunta)