Softbank Hawks catcher Yudai Yamamoto expressed his excitement on the 19th for the Japan Series against his former team (Yokohama/Mizuho PayPay). Three days have passed since the team clinched its third consecutive Japan Series appearance, and the team held a full practice at Mizuho PayPay Dome today. Looking ahead to the championship series starting on the 24th, he said enthusiastically, 'For me, Yokohama Stadium is a place where I played often. I am really looking forward to seeing if I get nervous and what it will feel like.'

He joined the team via a trade from DeNA in May. In 55 games, he contributed to the team's third consecutive league title with a .267 batting average, a career-high 6 Home Runs, and 41 RBI. Although he faced his former team in the interleague games in June shortly after the transfer, he was unable to play at that time due to a 'fatigue fracture of the hamate bone in his left hand.' The Japan Series will mark his first game against his former club since the transfer.

Regarding the DeNA players, he maintains close ties, saying, "I even went out for a meal with Shugo (Maki) before the Japan Series was decided. As for Sano-san and Shugo, I think we keep in touch quite often." Precisely because they know each other so well, a heated, head-to-head battle is expected to unfold.