On the 28th, Orix Buffaloes outfielder Yusuke Mugitani (23) was given the command to "overcome running out of gas" by manager Kishida. He joined the team as the first pick in the draft last year, and in his first year as a pro he had a batting average of .231 with one home run and 10 Home Run in 79 games. "He played aggressively, but his stamina is the first RBI. Of course he has to give it his all in one game, and he has to do that again the next day," Kishida said, laying out the conditions for him to become a regular player.

True to his manager's words, if he starts two days in a row, his batting average from the second game onwards will be .156 (5 At Bat 32 hit). This is a clear drop compared to the .228 (18 At Bat 79 hit) he would have had if he had been in starting line-up instead of starting the day before, and Mugiya reflected, "Even just playing two games made a huge difference in the fatigue I felt." He has reviewed his diet and supplement intake this offseason, and plans to put on a 3kg weight and compete at 83kg next year. "I want to prepare myself physically so I can play in 143 games," he said, full of enthusiasm.

The team as a whole has had the worst number of stolen base bases in the league for three consecutive years since 2011. However, he himself led the team with 12 stolen base. "I realized that if I can get off to a decent start, I can be successful. I want to stolen base 30 bases." This rising star has overcome the "second game wall" and is expanding the scope of his play. (Nambu Shunta)

Nishino vowed to make a leap forward as the "old man of the year." At 35, the oldest fielder on the team, he was born in the Year of the Horse, which is also next year's zodiac sign. On this day, he held his last voluntary practice of the year at Maishima in Osaka, and declared with determination, "I hope I can play like an old man and produce results." Though he is small at 167cm, this season, his 11th year, he has achieved his best results with 7 Home Run and 35 RBI. In the new year, he will hold joint voluntary training with Sugimoto and others in Miyakojima, Okinawa. "I want to play more games than this year. I'm not satisfied with this," he said confidently.