Orix Buffaloes outfielder Yutaro Sugimoto (34) was the last player in Pacific League League to renew his contract on the 28th. He attended negotiations in Maishima, Osaka, and signed for 77 million yen, an increase of 10 million yen. "I thought it would go up a little more, so I'm a little disappointed..." he said, explaining why he was the only player on the team to have negotiations over the New Year.

In 2013, he cleared the required number of at-bats for the first time in four years, hitting 16 Home Run and an OPS (on-base percentage plus slugging percentage) of .758, the best on the team. "I was a little excited when I saw the increases my teammates were getting after meeting the required amount," he said, and in the preliminary negotiations that took place this year, he was initially offered an increase of 9 million yen.

Fellow home-grown center fielder Nakagawa had signed for an annual salary of 100 million yen, an increase of 30 million yen, and Tonmiya had signed for an annual salary of 85 million yen, an increase of 15 million yen, so he revealed that there was a gap between the amount he wanted and the amount he wanted, saying, "It was a shock, or rather, it was very difficult. It was difficult to get a contract." In January, he had been doing voluntary training in Miyakojima, Okinawa, and on this day, just before the start of training camp in February, he was given an "increase" of 1 million yen, and they came to terms.

"I want to channel this regret into the white ball this year (2026). I'm always thinking about my career high," he said, looking ahead to surpassing the 32 home runs he hit in 2021, when he was Home Run king. In his 11th year as a pro, he is one home run away from Home Run 100 in total. He will turn the "little bit of regret" he has left behind into motivation, and Raoh will continue to ascend to heaven. (Nambu Shunta)