Lotte announced on the 11th that Chief Batting and base running Coach Tsuyoshi Nishioka (42) will leave the team at the end of this season, his first year in the position. The coach requested to step down, and the team accepted after discussions.

The coach was not seen on the ground of the home stadium ZOZO on the first day of autumn practice. Yamaguchi, who hit a career-high 38 Home Runs although he did not win the Pacific League Home Run title, expressed his renewed determination, saying, 'I am honestly lonely. He was more like an older brother than a coach, someone I was really close to and a senior I could talk to about anything. Because Tsuyoshi-san was there, I was able to work hard with a relaxed mental state. Even during the Miyakonojo camp in February, he encouraged me by saying, "You can do it." I was most happy that I could repay him with results. He always told me that "next year is important," so I want to show him a leveled-up version of myself.'