Orix Buffaloes Kaito Saiki pitcher (25) declared on June 6 that he aims to be a "man who never fails" like a rescue team. He attended the opening ceremony of the municipal fire department in Osaka City for the second year in a row and observed rescue drills by firefighters and the simultaneous discharge of water from a fire truck. The right-handed reliever, who said that he had longed to be a firefighter when he was a child, said, "I was able to play an active role in this event last year (25 years), and I want to come (as a spectator) even if I'm not playing . （I will participate every year (until I retire)," he said with a twinkle in his eye. baseball

In 2013, his third year as a professional, he was promoted for the first time on June 14th and completed the entire season without ever being removed from the roster. He pitched in 38 games, mainly as part of the winning lineup, and achieved his best results with 2 wins and 1 loss, 4 saves, and 11 hold. From his experiences of being down by one run and taking mound in the ninth inning, he developed a sense of responsibility: "I get really nervous, and if I get hit, we lose." "Firefighters also make no mistakes, and that's why we train. I want both myself (as a baseball player) and my team to remain undefeated," he said, setting a goal of ERA of over 1.87 for 2013.

He underwent surgery on his right elbow in October 2013, and is currently gradually increasing the intensity of catch balls. "As part of Olympus' rescue team, I want to play in 40 games. I'm so enthusiastic that I'm ready to go out every day." He has turned the inspiration he received from the lifesaving specialists into strength, becoming a flawless setup man himself. (Nambu Shunta)