Nippon-Ham catcher Yuya Gunji (28) vowed on the 22nd to perform just as well as the Keio University alumni on the Softbank Hawks. Starting autumn practice at Es Con Field on this day, he said, 'It was an indescribably frustrating season that began with me batting fourth and ended with me being the final batter (in the CS Final Series against the Softbank Hawks on the 16th). It is difficult to switch gears immediately, but I have no choice but to practice for next year.'

In his seventh professional year, which he started as the number four hitter, he played 110 games with a .251 batting average, 7 Home Runs, and 28 RBI. His numbers dropped from last season, and it ended up being a frustrating season where he experienced being demoted to the minor leagues in June due to a slump, so he is already looking ahead to next season.

This season, Masaki of the Softbank Hawks, who is two years junior to him at Keio University, made a huge breakthrough with 28 Home Run. As a team, they were troubled by him many times, including a game-winning shot in the third game of the CS Final Series. 'I feel like my share was sucked away, especially since Masaki got us at the very end. I want to work hard to surpass him next year,' he said, determined not to lose to his junior. Other Keio University alumni such as Yanagimachi and Hirose of the Softbank Hawks, and Watanabe of the Orix Buffaloes, have also been performing remarkably. 'There are many juniors, and I hope more people from Keio keep joining,' he added, noting that there are many notable players in the draft, such as the 151 km/h left-hander Watanabe. The slugger, who served as captain during his fourth year of university and became the first Triple Crown winner since Yoshinobu Takahashi in the fall of 2019, is fired up for a comeback next season.