Seibu Lions Lions manager Fumiya Nishiguchi (53) expressed his expectations for infielder Kazunari Ishii (31), who is transferring from Nippon-Ham as a free agent, on the 26th, saying, "He might just be in his prime."

Due to scheduling conflicts, the manager was unable to attend the negotiations in person, but he conveyed his thoughts by phone from Nango, Miyazaki, where the team was holding its autumn training camp. In his ninth professional season, Ishii played in 108 games as the starting second baseman, recording 6 Home Run and a batting average of .259. He played in 9 games at Belluna Dome, recording 12 hit 31 At Bat-bats, including one Home Run, for a batting average of .387, and he has had a bitter experience as an "enemy manager," saying, "We had prepared countermeasures, but we still got beaten. From our perspective as viewers, it was like, 'What are you doing?'" Now, the person who gave him a bitter experience as an "enemy manager" has become a teammate. "He himself says this year is the best year yet, so he might be in his prime and I have high expectations for him," he said, expressing great anticipation.