Takahiro Saeki appeared on "Pro baseball News 2026," which aired on Fuji TV ONE on the 19th, and commented on Softbank Hawks Takashi Umino.

Saeki commented, "After Kai left last year, we wondered what would happen to Softbank Hawks, and then fielder’s choice came along, and he has definitely grown in just one year." On the other hand, he pointed out, "As you can see from the number of games played, it's only 105 games," and added, "I want him to firmly hold that position as a regular player."

"It's purely my expectation, but I chose fielder’s choice with the hope that he will lead Softbank Hawks pitcher and lead them to consecutive championships," he said, explaining why he chose Umino as his favorite Softbank Hawks player.

Umino caught in a team-high 105 games, starting in 82 of them. He started in 5 out of 6 games in the CS Final Stage against Nippon-Ham, and started in all 5 games of the Japan Series against Hanshin Tigers. In particular, his experience as a starter in high-pressure battles like the CS and Japan Series, and leading the team to the championship, must have given him a great deal of confidence.

☆ Cooperation: Fuji TV ONE "Professional baseball News 2026"