The second period for notifying players of their release from professional baseball has begun, and on the 20th, two teams including Nippon-Ham announced their releases. The joint tryouts will be held on November 17th at Vantelin Dome.
The release notices issued on the 20th are as follows.
◆ Nippon-Ham
Pitcher: Koji Fukutani
◆ Rakuten Eagles
Catcher Hikaru Ito
![[Video] A first in professional baseball history! Four consecutive Home Run from the first batter in the first inning - the fourth is Manami!](https://hochi.news/images/2026/07/02/20260702-OHT1I51413-C.jpg)
![[Nippon-Ham] Announcement of Koji Fukutani's departure from the team; although informed in August that he was not in their future plans, he stated, 'The desire within me to pitch, to test myself, and to grow remains as strong as ever.'](https://hochi.news/images/2026/10/20/20261020-OHT1I51229-L.jpg)
![[Nippon-Ham] Announcement of Koji Fukutani's departure; joined from Chunichi via FA but managed only one win in two years: 'Extremely frustrated,' 'I feel guilty about my lack of ability'](https://hochi.news/images/2026/10/20/20261020-OHT1I51227-L.jpg)
![[Nippon-Ham] Out-of-force notices issued to three players: Koki Matsuoka, who transferred from the Seibu Lions in the 2022 active player draft, Yuki Umebayashi, the 6th pick in the 2019 draft, and Ryosuke Myose, the 4th pick in the 2023 draft.](https://hochi.news/images/2026/10/19/20261019-OHT1I51134-L.jpg)
![[Nippon-Ham] Kota Tatsu: "During the off-season, I should focus on improving my individual abilities"... One night after the CS elimination, training after moving from Fukuoka to Es Con.](https://hochi.news/images/2026/10/17/20261017-OHT1I51559-L.jpg)
![[Miyazaki PL] Hokkaido Nippon-Ham wins a close game; Suguru Fukuda pitches 5 scoreless innings and Hiroki Tsuneya hits a two-run home run](https://media.insight.pacificleague.com/webp/WpIfl0BmJ1NnZxwlrDcyj1S3JRui11KXSaUOospz.webp)
![Ruan Ohtsuka with 6 Home Runs; Jay Ohkawa and Kaito Fujimori also appear in the 'Persol CS Pa' [2026 Rookie Performance - Hokkaido Nippon-Ham]](https://media.insight.pacificleague.com/webp/y7SeZ0hZzU6CxeAJssAeljetp9rYArbW6KJt74Er.webp)
![[The Best Battery is Kaima Taira and Taiga Kojima] Today's Pacific League [October 20]](https://media.insight.pacificleague.com/webp/zYvCN1pocbm6wTMXlYertPtXhQpGfopAim0f0UWe.webp)
![[Miyazaki Phoenix League] Kosei Koga allowed 6 runs in 5 innings; Soshi Yoshino hit an RBI single, but Rakuten Eagles' winning streak comes to an end.](https://media.insight.pacificleague.com/webp/IVWvyvzoTqjVHUHGPqJmO4pCsM7QfFzVz6USi37J.webp)
