The Orix Buffaloes announced on the 24th that pitcher Ryuhei Sotani (25) underwent left elbow medial collateral ligament reconstruction surgery (commonly known as Tommy John surgery) at a hospital in Saga Prefecture on the 23rd. In this, his fourth professional season, he complained of discomfort in his left elbow during the game against the Softbank Hawks at Kyocera Dome Osaka on September 17th and was forced to leave the mound mid-inning in the 6th. Although he continued to adjust without throwing after that, his condition did not improve as expected.

After leaving the team, he held repeated discussions with the club and decided to undergo surgery early this month. It is generally said that it takes one year to return to competition, and there is a high possibility that he will make a fresh start as a developmental player next season.

He joined the team as the first-round draft pick in 2022 from Hakuoh University. Last season, his third as a professional, he recorded a career-high eight wins, and in March of this year, he participated in the WBC as a member of Samurai Japan. This season, he has five wins in 14 games. Taking to heart the situation where aces Miyagi and Yamashita are sidelined long-term due to similar surgeries, he has taken to the mound with a strong sense of responsibility.

For the team aiming for their first championship in four years next season, the long-term absence of Soya, who was expected to be a pillar of the starting rotation, is a bitter blow. Although it will be a long road, he intends to return to the mound in an evolved form. His true form is to overwhelm the hitter with a fastball that constantly approaches 150 kilometers per hour and a 'roller coaster slider' with a large break. Believing in a bright future, he will devote himself to rehabilitation.