On the 15th, Iwatate Manabu, the second-team infield defense base running coach, who will be handing over number 74 to pitcher Arihara Kohei, who is returning to his Kohei Arihara Nippon-Ham for the first time in six years this season, welcomed Arihara's joining the team and said, "I want him to win 74 games in four years. If he can win 15 games every year and have a year where he wins 20 games, it's not impossible," expressing his hope that Arihara will win as number during his four-year contract.

He said that Arihara had contacted him to say hello and sent him some high-quality alcohol. "I told him not to worry about it because we weren't players and it was his coach's number, but (Arihara) said, 'It's a token of my appreciation,' so he gave me some alcohol," he said, expressing his gratitude for Arihara's thoughtfulness.