On the 9th, outfielder Shota Hiranuma who joined Orix Buffaloes in the active player draft, vowed to "break out in my 11th year." On that day, he held a joint voluntary training session with Softbank Hawks 's Kondo and Orix Buffaloes 's Nishikawa in Amagi, Kagoshima, and opened it up to the public. He participated in the "Kondo School" again this year, and produced a great sound during a variety of indoor batting practice sessions. "A career high is a must. I want to work hard so that I can break out in my 11th year," he declared with determination.

He won the 2015 Senbatsu tournament with Tsuruga Kehi (Fukui) and played for Nippon-Ham and Seibu Lions. "Right now I'm just looking forward to it," he said with a bright expression. "I feel like I need to do what I have to do without getting too excited. I want to be well prepared and not get injured," he said, as he looks to get ready by the start of camp.