It was revealed on the 23rd that Orix Buffaloes pitcher Ryuhei Sotani (25) underwent ligament reconstruction surgery on his left elbow. He left the first team after his last appearance in the game against the Softbank Hawks on September 17th (Kyocera Dome) and had been adjusting without throwing since then. As his condition did not improve as expected, he decided to undergo surgery earlier this month after repeated discussions with the club.

Soya, who is undergoing surgery for the first time, revealed his honest feelings, saying, 'It's not like me to be unable to swing my arm with full force. I felt that if I continued like this, I would be a further burden to the team.' Having participated in the WBC in March as a member of Samurai Japan, he had earned 5 wins in 14 games this season, his fourth year. Taking to heart the situation where aces Miyagi and Yamashita were sidelined long-term due to similar surgeries, he had been taking the mound with a strong sense of responsibility.

It is expected to take a year to return to competition, and there is a high possibility that he will make a fresh start as a developmental player next season. Although it will be a long road, he spoke with determination, saying, 'I have nothing but gratitude for the team. I want to return even stronger than when I first joined. I must approach everything positively and update myself.' It was the 2022 draft where he was selected in the first round from Hakuoh University as a left-hander ready for immediate impact. With firm resolve, he now takes on this new battle.