On the 5th, the Orix Buffaloes announced that they have notified pitcher Shota Abe that they will not be renewing his player contract for the next season. Reflecting on his six years, he said, 'The club thanked me for swinging my arm hard for the team. Since we were able to become the best in Japan, I was able to have a very good experience. It remains my best memory.'

Abe joined the Orix Buffaloes as a sixth-round draft pick in 2020 after playing for Sakata Minami in Yamagata, Seibi University, and Nippon Life Insurance. He emerged as a relief pitcher in 2022, his second professional year. He contributed to the league title and the Japan Series championship with 3 saves, 22 holds, and a 0.61 ERA in 44 games, including a streak of 19 consecutive games without allowing any runs from the start of the season. He reflected, "In my first year, I could only pitch in four games due to injury, so that year (2022), I was truly pitching with desperate intensity." The following year, 2023, he was a driving force behind the team's third consecutive title, pitching in a career-high 49 games with 1 save, 21 holds, and a 2.70 ERA.

Since changing his number to 20 in 2024, his appearances decreased to 17 and then 16. In this, his sixth professional season, he challenged himself with a new form by lowering his arm slot to a sidearm style, but he could not produce results, finishing with a 10.13 ERA in 13 games. 'It was a challenge I had never attempted in my baseball career, so it was very painful, and most things didn't go as planned. However, it became a year that will be a great plus for my baseball life,' he said. His last appearance with the first team was the August 16th game against Nippon-Ham (Kyocera Dome Osaka). Nevertheless, his attitude of silently dedicating himself to baseball in the farm league served as a model for young pitchers.

I am truly grateful that they took a chance on me at this age (28). I have nothing but feelings of gratitude regarding that. I was able to experience being number one in Japan, and I was allowed to pitch in good positions; it has been a very happy six years.

His career record stands at 4 wins, 6 losses, 4 saves, 47 holds, and a 2.68 ERA across 143 games. Regarding his future, he stated, "It is currently undecided, including the possibility of continuing my playing career. I want to discuss it with my family before moving forward."