Seibu Lions announced on the 21st that pitcher Yutaro Watanabe (26) and catcher Kaito Noda (21) have each undergone surgery.

Watanabe underwent right elbow arthroscopic cleaning surgery at a hospital in Tokyo on the 20th for the purpose of improving his physical condition, and it is expected to take four months to return to actual competition. In his eighth professional season this year, he served as the opening day pitcher for the first time, appearing in 20 games with a record of 5 wins and 7 losses and an ERA of 3.61. He had been away from actual competition since being injured in a game against the Orix Buffaloes at Kyocera Dome on September 11th.

Noda underwent 'right elbow arthroscopic cleaning surgery' and 'ulnar nerve anterior transposition surgery' at a hospital in Kanagawa Prefecture on the 19th for the purpose of improving his physical condition, and is expected to take four months to return to actual competition. In this season, his fourth year as a professional which he started as a developmental player, he appeared in 35 games in the farm league, recording a batting average of .292 with 26 hits, 0 Home Runs, and 5 RBIs.