Orix Buffaloes pitcher Kaito Saiki (25), who underwent arthroscopic osteophyte removal and loose body fragment removal surgery on his right elbow on October 30, resumed catch practice at the team's facility in Maishima, Osaka on the 19th. pitch from a distance of about 20 meters, checking his form. "It doesn't feel too bad. There's no pain at all," he nodded.

After the surgery, he consulted with his trainer and went through a rehabilitation program. The timing of resuming throwing was a little later than originally planned, but he steadily made progress in his training, saying, "I don't want to rush things and end up needing another surgery. I want to heal completely and be able to throw again." During the period when he couldn't throw, he sought advice from Yamashita, who is two years younger than him, and improved the way he uses his right arm. In the future, he plans to gradually increase the intensity of his training, with an eye on entering bullpen during the Miyazaki training camp in February.

In his third professional season, he was promoted to the first team on June 14th and completed the season without being removed from the roster even once. He appeared in 38 games, mainly as part of the winning pattern, and achieved his best career results with 2 wins and 1 loss, 11 hold and 4 ERA 1.87, including his first professional win. He has also been confirmed to participate in the Osaka City Fire Department's New Year's parade in January for the second consecutive year. "I said I would go myself. This year I was putting out a lot of fires (laughs). I want to do my best as an 'Orix firefighter' again next year," he said, full of Kansai humor. (Shunta Nanbu)