Under manager Hajime Miki, the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Rakuten Eagles started their 2025 season with a record of 67 wins, 74 losses, and 2 ties, a winning percentage of .475, and finished in 4th place in Pacific League. While it was a disappointing result, marking their fourth consecutive 4th place finish, many young players emerged, and it can be said that it was a year with many takeaways for the next season. This time, we will look back at the Tohoku Rakuten Eagles pitcher staff's 2025 season.

The team's ERA, which had been the worst in the league for three consecutive years, improved slightly to 3.37, tied for fourth in the league.

Team ERA was the worst team in the league for three consecutive years until last season, but this season they are tied for fourth in the league with a 3.37. runs, which was also the worst team in the league last season, is also third in the league, so the problems they faced last season are slowly improving.

However, there were no pitcher players who reached the innings pitched mark this season. Among them, Takahisa Hayakawa and pitcher, which had double-digit win numbers last season, finished 2-8, ERA 4.35, Masaru Fujii and pitcher 6-7, and ERA 3.20, respectively, leaving the starters with some issues. On the other hand, however, Masaya Nishigaki pitcher he was second in the league with 63 starts, while Naoto Nishiguchi pitcher he overcame Tommy John surgery and ERA 1.07 in 52 games. The reliever squad was also notable for its success, as Shoma Fujihira pitcher, who switched to reliever last season, continued to show consistent pitch this year.

The oldest player, Takayuki Kishi, achieved his 400th career start.

The team's oldest Takayuki Kishi pitcher played 109 inning, the team's second-place finish, although he did not reach the required innings pitched. This year, he supported the team with unabated and tenacious pitching. In the game that made his first appearance of the season against Saitama Seibu Lions on April 3rd, he went win pitcher with 1 runs in the 7th inning, marking his 19th consecutive year of win since his rookie year. Furthermore, in the Fukuoka Softbank game on August 26, he threw 6 inning to make a match with 1 runs (earned runs 0), reaching his 170th career win. In the same game, he became the 22nd NPB player to reach 400 appearances.

In addition, the words "It's not like this runs The Eagles" left in a hero interview after stopping the team's losing streak with a good pitch of 7 innings in the Chunichi game on June 12 also became a hot topic. Later, when a towel designed with this word was released, it was also used in the team's end-game poster. He led the team as the oldest in areas other than play. "30" to 200 wins in total. Expectations are high for his success next season.

Second-year player Tatsuki Koja also fought hard, tying for the team lead with seven wins.

It was the second year that he won the team's top white star this season, Tatsuki Koja pitcher. Kosai pitcher, who joined the team as the first pick in the draft last season, left the spring camp in February this year due to back tension. Still, when he returned to action in the open game, he made his first start of the season in the mound game of the season in the second game of the opening card on March 29th, the Orix Buffaloes game. In the same game, he showed a good pitch of 2 hit no runs in 5 innings, and in the Chiba Lotte Marines game on April 6, he scored his first complete game shutout game win with 3 hit no runs on 103 pitches in 9 innings.

In the Fukuoka Softbank game on September 26, he made a game with a runs in the middle of the sixth inning and reached 100 innings pitched for the first time in his career. Compared to last season, when he had 5 wins and 8 losses, he showed great growth this season with 7 wins and 7 losses in 19 games. Next season, in order to reduce the burden on the reliever team, I would like to increase the number of games that I throw up to 7 innings.

Masaya Nishigaki pitched in a team-high 63 games.

Masaya Nishigaki, a fourth-year pitcher, pitched in 63 games, reliever most on the team. pitcher hadn't been able to establish himself in the first team for the three seasons from his rookie year through last season, but this season he started on the first team. On May 25th, in a game against Hokkaido Nippon-Ham, he pitched in the top of the 11th extra inning with the game tied. He walked two Walk with two outs, closer the team to no hit and no runs, earning his first professional hold.

He continued pitch steadily from then on, and by the end of the season, he was in a winning pattern. He pitched in 63 games, with 7 wins and 1 loss, 14 hold, 21 hold points, and ERA of 1.96, making for a remarkable year. His 7 wins tied him with pitcher for the most on the team. It could be said that pitcher 's passionate pitching throughout the season changed the flow of games and led the team to win.

Naoto Nishiguchi 's comeback from Tommy John surgery

In his ninth year, Naoto Nishiguchi pitcher has recovered from right elbow surgery. pitcher Nishiguchi spent last season rehabbing as a developmental player after undergoing Tommy John surgery in September 2023. He then returned to the team in February of this season and showed steady adjustment and was named to the first-team lineup for the season opener.

On May 13 against Chiba Lotte Marines, with the score tied in the top of the 9th inning, the team went up to mound for the 5th position, and closed out the game with 3 strikeouts, including 2 struck out. Then, immediately after, in the bottom of the 9th inning, the team Yoshiaki Watanabe walk-off win with a sacrifice fly of players. Nishiguchi pitcher got his first win in 1003 days, and in his hero interview, he exclaimed with joy, "Ureppi! and exploded with joy.

Since then, he has continued to support bullpen with his stable pitch, and on July 6, he set a team record of 26 consecutive games runs without a win since the start of the season. On July 8, he also runs for the first time this season, resulting in an overwhelming 3-1 record, 31 hold and 1.07 ERA in 52 games, showing a remarkable comeback.

In his second year as reliever pitcher, Shoma Fujihira set a new team record with 29 consecutive runs games.

Tohei pitcher, who switched to reliever last season, continued to play a full rotation this season, pitching in 62 games, his most ever. On October 5, the final game of the season, he pitched the second best game of the season, and he pitched 1 inning to no hit 1 strike out to no runs to no closer, setting a new team record of 29 consecutive games without a loss runs. As a result, he pitched 62 games and finished his 9th season with a 2-2 record, 21 hold and ERA 2.11, supporting bullpen him throughout the season.

Ren Ren Kajiya is thriving in his new environment Uchi Seiryu is also capable of being used as both a starter and reliever.

Newcomer pitcher Ren Kajiya also made a strong impression. Although he started the season in the minor leagues, he was promoted in early April. In a game against the Saitama Seibu Lions on May 27, he retired the side in order in the bottom of the 7th inning, and his teammates took the lead immediately afterward, giving him his first win since joining the team. Although his performance slumped slightly during the summer, he used his 12 years of experience to make adjustments and completed his first year with the team without injury, recording 2 wins and 1 loss, 18 hold, and ERA of 3.50 in 52 games.

In his fifth year, Uchi Seiryu pitcher was used in both the starting lineup and the reliever. Last season, Uchi-pitcher switched to the starting lineup in earnest, but he switched back to reliever this season due to the departure of the reliever team. There were also long reliefs in games where the starter was inning early, but he responded brilliantly. It is not yet clear how to use it next season, but no matter what kind of appointment he makes, he will show good pitching that makes use of this season's experience.

Two rookie pitcher also made a strong debut in the first team.

Pitchers Haruto Haruto Nakagomi, pitcher third, and Masahiro Ehara, pitcher was drafted fifth, have made their first-team debuts.

pitcher took to mound on May 4th against Orix Buffaloes with an 11-point lead in the top of the ninth inning. Despite being in a pinch with two outs and a string of runs, closer the score at zero, completing his memorable professional debut as a battery Takaya Tanaka his senior at university.

pitcher Ehara made his debut on March 28 against Orix Buffaloes in the opening series, taking mound in the bottom of the 8th inning and delivering a magnificent runs pitch. On September 15 against Chiba Lotte Marines Marines, in the top of the 12th extra inning with the score tied, he faced a dangerous situation with one out and a runner on second base, but managed to get a double play play to end the game, sending it to the bottom of the 12th inning. It was at this point that Yuya Ogo hit a memorable home run, the 2000th in the team's history, and pitcher Ehara earned his first professional win.

Takahisa Hayakawa and Masaru Fujii, who achieved double-digit win last season, had a difficult year. Will they be able to make a comeback next season?

As mentioned at the beginning, pitcher Hayakawa and pitcher, who each achieved their first double-digit win season last year, have had a tough year.

pitcher Hayakawa earned his first win of the season on April 4 against Chiba Lotte Marines, runs only one run in seven innings. However, he went winless for about two and a half months after that, unable to perform at his best, and was removed from the first-team roster after his last appearance on July 4. He continued to adjust in the minor leagues. He was recalled to the first team on September 3 and started against Saitama Seibu Lions on the same day, but gave up six runs in the middle of the third inning, failing to fulfill his role as a starter. He finished his fifth season with the fewest appearances and wins of his career. It has also been announced that he underwent posterior labral cleaning surgery on his left shoulder at the end of September and will need four to five months to return to playing.

pitcher Fujii made his first start of the season on April 8 against Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, but gave up 2 runs in 5 innings and was not given a decision. Since then, he has struggled to consistently deliver stable pitch, and had a difficult start to the season, going winless until mid-May.

He earned his first win of the season against Fukuoka Softbank on May 16th, but his win total has been slow to increase. In September, he started four games, but in three of them he didn't even make it to the fourth inning, making it a frustrating season for him. On the other hand, he has appeared in five games against Fukuoka Softbank, going 3-1 with ERA of 1.52, proving himself to be a "Hawk killer."

For the team to climb higher in the standings next season, the resurgence of both pitcher will be essential.

Takahiro Norimoto may exercise his overseas free agency rights, but the team aims to improve pitcher staff by acquiring multiple ready-to-play pitcher in the draft.

The Eagles After 13 years of single-mindedly waving his arms for the team, Takahiro Norimoto pitcher announced his decision to exercise his overseas FA rights. Howard pitcher and Yahure pitcher also left after only one year.

However, at this year's draft meeting, the team acquired several immediate pitcher players, including Hanazono University and Sota Fujiwara pitcher in the first round, Waseda University and Tatsuki Ito pitcher in the second round, and Oji Ryu Kutani pitcher, who won the Hashido Prize (best player award) at the 96th Inter-City baseball Tournament, in the sixth round. In addition, Kenta Maeda pitcher is also set to join the team. Next season, Tohoku Rakuten Eagles is expected to further improve its pitcher power, and it is likely that we will see an intense battle for the rotation from the open season.