◇Saitama Seibu Yuta Kuroki and Keisuke Nakata sign contracts with controlled players

Saitama Seibu have signed controlled player contracts with Yuta Kuroki​ ​pitcher and Keisuke Nakata players.

pitcher Kuroki joined the club last offseason from Hokkaido Nippon-Ham. He made four appearances in the opener, posting a record of 5 inning 1 hit 1 Hit by Pitch 6 strike out and ERA 0.00. The new number "54" is also the number worn in the Orix era from 2017 to 2023.

▼Kuroki pitcher Comment
"Honestly, I'm happy, but I'd like to keep my head up because it's going to start soon. I want you to work even harder without being satisfied," and I want to feel like I'm standing at the starting line, fighting hard for a year, and being able to laugh together at the end of the day."

Nakata, who also transferred from Fukuoka Softbank, showed his utility skills by playing infield mainly short stop in the opening round, as well as playing outfield defense. In 11 games, he batted .238 with 1 RBI and 1 stolen base. The new number is "00".

▼Nakata's Comment
"From the time I joined the club to this point, I have been practicing every day with the intention of doing what I can do. I will prepare well and do my best to be able to do my job where I am entrusted with it."

◇ Hokkaido Nippon-Ham announces sponsors for the "Win a SHINJO Board and Win 1.11 million yen" prize

Hokkaido Nippon-Ham has announced that it has decided on the sponsors for the "Hit the SHINJO Board and Win 1.11 million yen" award, which was proposed by manager Tsuyoshi Shinjo. The award is intended to present a prize of 1.11 million yen to any player, including those on the visiting team, who hits a Home Run run into the signboards installed in regular season left and right stands during an official game. In response to the decision on the sponsors, manager Shinjo commented, "This year's sponsors have been decided. Thank you very much. Some of our players have hit the signboards in practice, so there will be a chance in the game as well. I'm looking forward to it."

◇ Part of Tohoku Rakuten Rakuten Mobile Park Miyagi renovated

In preparation for the 2025 season, Rakuten Eagles have made some renovations, including to the sports lounge "EAGLES'NEST," the Ferris wheel at Smile Glico Park, the installation of LED vision, and seating within the stadium.

A new 33m-long wooden deck has been installed at the EAGLES'NEST on the first base side of Rakuten Mobile Park Miyagi. This open space overlooks the entire stadium, allowing you to enjoy watching baseball games in a relaxed atmosphere. The retractable roof means you can relax even on rainy days.

There are party plans that allow you to rent out the entire interior and wooden deck of EAGLES'NEST, and the bar will also be open after the game on holiday days. The bar will allow you to enjoy the after-party without having to go to the station, reminisce while watching highlights of the game, get excited about the possibility of a surprise plan, and enjoy a special time with friends after the game. In addition, a "player illustration sticker" will be given away with each purchase.

The Ferris wheel at "Smile Glico Park" will also be renovated, and a new "Festival Gondola" themed on festivals from the six Tohoku prefectures will be introduced. In addition, some of the gondolas will have "Strange Gondolas" hidden inside, where you can't predict what will happen.

In addition, the large LED vision behind the third base sky stand and infield reserved seats on the first base side A have also been renovated. A naming rights contract for the left and right entrance facilities was signed with the Tohoku headquarters of East Japan Railway Company (JR East Japan).

◇Kimitsu City, Chiba Prefecture, is a candidate for relocating Chiba Lotte Farm's headquarters

Chiba Lotte has decided on Kimitsu City, Chiba Prefecture as a possible site for relocating its farm team headquarters, and notified Kimitsu City of this decision. Applications were solicited from February 16, 2024, and 31 municipalities had applied by the end of March 2024. After multiple discussions with the municipalities, Kimitsu City was selected as the possible site for the relocation. An agreement for the relocation is scheduled to be concluded with Kimitsu City in the future.

▼Comment from Shunsuke Takasaki, president of the baseball team
"We would like to once again express our gratitude to the 31 local governments that applied for our farm headquarters location. We held numerous discussions with the four local governments in particular, and they spared a great deal of their time to visit the sites and consider business plans. We are extremely grateful.

The reason we chose Kimitsu City as the potential relocation site was because of the things we valued: 'collaboration with the local community,' 'location, site and facilities,' and 'a sustainable management scheme.' We received the most specific and feasible proposal in all respects, and were able to paint a picture of the future 20 to 30 years from now. We will work hard to ensure that this farm home base relocation initiative is a positive one not only for the team and fans, but also for the local community."

Former Fukuoka Softbank managers appear at pre-game ceremony

On Saturday, April 5th, Fukuoka Softbank will hold a ceremony before the game to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the founding of Softbank Hawks Softbank Hawks, inviting Chairman Oh Sadaharu, who has served as manager since the team's first year, as well as other past managers.

The theme of the event on the first day of the "Softbank Hawks 20th Anniversary Day" will be "The Black Hawk Descends," following on from the "Hawk Festival Black Hawk Descends" held in 2005. On the day, the team will wear a special Softbank Hawks 20th anniversary jersey designed based on the visitor jersey, and replica jersey will also be distributed to all attendees.

▼ Ceremony guests (during his tenure as manager)
・ Chairman and CEO, Oh Sadaharu (2005-2008)
・Koji Akiyama (2009-2014)
・Kimiyasu Kudo (2015-2021) *Appearing via video message
・Hiroshi Fujimoto (2022/2023)
・ Hiroki Kokubo, current manager (2024-)

▼ Comment from Chairman Oh Sadaharu
"Since the team's founding, Softbank Hawks have had the slogan 'Aim to be number one in the world!' The players' mindset has changed, and the team has grown exponentially stronger. The Hawks' ultimate goal of becoming number one in the world is not easy, but it is worth aiming for. As we look towards the 30 and 40 years after these 20 years, we want to work hard towards new goals. Thanks to the support of our fans, we are able to work hard every year, thanks to the strength we receive. Your support is absolutely essential. Let's do our best together!"

・ Updated almost every day! Today's Pacific League

Related links
・ pitcher Yuta Kuroki and player Keisuke Nakata sign contracts as controlled players
・ Sponsor companies announced for "Win a SHINJO Board and Win 1.11 million yen" prize, proposed by Director Tsuyoshi Shinjo
・ EAGLES'NEST has been powered up! A new viewing experience!
・ [Chiba Lotte] Farm team home base (second team home base) relocation candidate decided
・ The theme for the 20th anniversary of the founding of Softbank Hawks on Saturday, April 5th is "The Black Hawk Descends."