Rakuten Eagles infielder Rui Muneyama (22) vowed to power up in order to win. Despite being a rookie, he played in 122 games and reached the required number of plate appearances, and was awarded the Best Nine in Pacific League short stop category, the first time a rookie has received this honor in 44 years. Reflecting on his successful first year, he said, "There were games where we lost on the smallest things, but there were also games where we lost simply because of a difference in strength, like being outmatched in power or swinging the bat." He acknowledged the gap between his team and the top teams, both individually and as a player.

To close the gap, he will focus on training during the off-season, strongly concentrating on building his physique. He plans to increase his power during his self-training in Kagoshima Prefecture in January next year, while also practicing movements that are relevant to baseball, such as how to use his body. If he gains power and hits more home runs and other Home Run, it will align with Muneyama's idea that "I want to become a batter that opponents are afraid of, and strength is related to that." Furthermore, physical strength will also help prevent injuries, which is an essential aspect for Muneyama, who says he wants to play as short stop for a long time. By increasing his strength in all aspects of play, including running, hitting, and fielding, he will become a key player who can lead the team to victory next season.