On the 6th, the Rakuten Eagles announced that hitting coach Tatsuya Shimozono and infield defense and base running coach Ryosuke Morioka will be leaving the team.
Shimozono will take over as the batting coach for the Rakuten Eagles starting in 2025. This season, he primarily coached the first team.
Morioka also served as a coach for the Rakuten Eagles starting from 2025.
The team finished the season with 58 wins, 84 losses, and 1 draw, ending up 26 games below .500 and finishing in last place for the first time in eight years.
![[Rakuten Eagles] Former Lotte coach Akira Otsuka to be invited as coach for next season; previously fought alongside manager Masato Yoshii during their time at Lotte](https://hochi.news/images/2026/10/06/20261006-OHT1I51009-L.jpg)
![[Rakuten Eagles] Contreras to leave the team at the end of this season; Marte's status is fluid, Urena's is undecided, while McCusker and others will remain.](https://hochi.news/images/2026/10/06/20261006-OHT1I51007-L.jpg)
![[Softbank Hawks] Ryusei Oe and three developmental players, including former rostered player Takehiro Hasegawa, were notified of their release. The departure of Bunichi Takanami, the third-team outfield defense and base running coach, was also announced.](https://hochi.news/images/2026/10/06/20261006-OHT1I51118-L.jpg)
![[Rakuten Eagles] Manager Masato Yoshii, who took over mid-season, said 'We must all accept the result of finishing in last place...' during his speech at the final game ceremony. The team finished in last place for the first time in eight years with 26 games under .500.](https://hochi.news/images/2026/10/05/20261005-OHT1I51563-L.jpg)
![[Rakuten Eagles] Season finale ends with a win. Kenta Maeda earns his 6th win with a strong performance, allowing 1 runs and striking out 10 over 6 innings... Season ends in last place for the first time in 8 years.](https://hochi.news/images/2026/10/05/20261005-OHT1I51493-L.jpg)
