Orix Buffaloes player Yuma Mune, who was officially announced by NPB on October 19th as a player holding domestic free agent (FA) rights, is currently considering his options, including the possibility of exercising those rights.

I have been here for 12 years, and I have nothing but gratitude. Mr. Fukura (General Manager Junichi Fukura) and Mr. Nakajima (Special Director Satoshi Nakajima) from their time as managers treated me with great care, and that is something I naturally want to cherish. I have an immense attachment to the team, but right now I want to seriously and calmly choose the path where I can grow the most. After expressing his gratitude to the Orix Buffaloes, who developed him since he joined as a second-round draft pick in 2014 from Yokohama Hayato High School until he secured the starting third base position in his seventh year, he spoke from the heart about the weight of a decision that involves his own life.

He turned 30 on June 7th this year and acquired domestic free agency rights 23 days later on the 30th. While this season marked a major milestone in his baseball career, it was also a special season for Mune.

For three years starting in 2021, he contributed to three consecutive league championships and a national title through both offense and defense, earning the Golden Glove Award and Best Nine honors for three straight years. However, for two years starting in 2024, his batting became unstable, and there were periods when he was forced to adjust in the minor leagues. Realizing that 'if I can't hit, the coaching staff won't use me,' he strengthened his medical training, kept a batting notebook to analyze trends and countermeasures, and even changed his bat manufacturer, length, and weight.

His approach has also changed. Originally one of the players who was strict with himself, this season he further heightened his awareness of facing himself by deciding to "make no excuses." Although his batting average remained at .245, he appeared in 134 games, reached the required number of plate appearances for the first time in four years, and recorded career highs of 14 Home Runs and 65 RBI. He was able to produce results, leading the team in RBI, ranking second in Home Runs behind Kotaro Kobayashi (18), and second in stolen bases with 6, following Haruto Watanabe (18).

Even though he is considering exercising his free agency rights, it is not because he is dissatisfied with the Orix Buffaloes. On the contrary, he is filled with gratitude. The reason he is still contemplating is solely his desire to further improve himself while his body is in perfect condition. 'Looking around, injuries are increasing, and when I think about it calmly, I wonder if I only have about five or six years left where my body will be healthy enough to play baseball. I feel the limit is approaching moment by moment.' When looking at himself objectively, the time remaining is not that long. Including new attempts he has been working on since the end of the season, such as dealing with high balls, there are still many things Mune can challenge himself with precisely because it is now.

An unwavering heart also supports the decision-making process. Whether he stays or exercises his free agency rights, the outcome remains unknown. Even so, Mune says, 'I will make the decision the right one myself. If I choose it myself and then say something like "I won't know what the right answer was until it's over," that would be shifting the blame. Blaming others is just making excuses. I have to take responsibility and face myself head-on. I think I've reached that stage in my life.' He continues, 'If I call it a "culmination," I'd be deciding my own end, so that's not it. I think it's just about facing myself earnestly every single day, year after year.' Because he feels he still has room to grow as a player, he will deliberate carefully to reach the optimal solution.

Interview and text by Masaki Kitano