In his first professional season this year, Ryu Kutani of the Rakuten Eagles appeared in 39 games and boasted outstanding stability with 2 wins, 1 loss, 16 holds, and an ERA of 1.94.

Tomotaka Sakaguchi, who appeared on 'Professional baseball News 2026' broadcast on Fuji TV ONE on the 5th, praised him, saying, 'He is wonderful. His fastball is good, of course, but his slider and change-up are unique, and I think from a hitter's perspective, it feels like he could keep throwing change-ups forever. You don't know which way it will break. In that situation, he secured the 8th inning. His ERA is 1.94, after all. It's amazing.'

Similarly, Hatsuhiko Tsuji gave his seal of approval, saying, "His determination to go after the batter is incredible. His arm swing on his fastball is good, and his change-up is unique. He is a very interesting pitcher."

Masaki Saito said, "The change-up and the fork are different. The fork is about 10 kilometers faster, which makes it difficult for batters to tell them apart. He worked so hard this year as a rookie, so next year will be the real test. I hope he can start the year in good condition next season."

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