On the 18th, Nippon-Ham held a welcome ceremony for new players at their minor league facility in Kamagaya, Chiba.

Hiroki Tsuneya (Hokkai Gakuen University), the first-round draft pick from Ebetsu City, Hokkaido, had the best birthday ever. On the 18th, his 22nd birthday, he attended the "Rookie Introduction Ceremony" and was celebrated with applause and other enthusiastic cheers from the 1,085 fans who gathered. The promising prospect, who aims for an early promotion to the main roster, said, "I'm really happy to have been celebrated by so many people for the first time. At the same time, I feel like I've come to an incredible stage. I want to repay them with my play and show them that I can do well."