On the 14th, Lotte announced that their team slogan for 2026 will be "PLAY FREE. WIN HARD."

This off-season, the Lotte nine have been undergoing intense training with a focus on winning, with the aim of building a highly competitive team regardless of age.

In addition, the team places importance on "always having fun," one of the values of the team's philosophy, and under the leadership of Manager Saburo, who experienced being the best in Japan during his playing days, the team will work with young players to create a bright and lively team.

In 2026, the team will push forward with the goal of winning the league championship and becoming the best in Japan, under the slogan that puts into words the type of baseball that Manager Saburo aspires to.

Manager Saburo's comments on the slogan are as follows:

When I took over, I conveyed the importance of rigor in baseball, the intensity of each play, and the desire to create fierce competition within the team in order to build a strong team.

However, I believe that it is important not only to be strict, but also to have fun at all times. We all have fun while completing rigorous training. In games, we all get excited or upset about a single play. When a good play is made, everyone on the bench stands up and claps their hands in joy, and when there is a disappointing play, everyone feels bitter from the bottom of their hearts. That is the kind of team I want to be.

We would like to share this atmosphere with the fans cheering us on in the stands and unite them together. This feeling is incorporated into our new slogan.

Looking back, the 2005 team that became Japan's best was exactly what I consider to be one of my ideals. We will continue to "PLAY FREE. WIN HARD." and create excitement that surpasses that of that time.