SMBC Japan Series 2026 Game 1 DeNA vs Softbank Hawks (24th, Yokohama)

The Softbank Hawks stubbornly snatched the opening run in the 7th inning with the bat of infielder Yudai Shoji. With runners on second and third and no outs in the 7th, he hit a ground ball to second base, allowing the runner on third, Dai Makihara, to score.

Shoji recorded a .455 batting average in the CS Final Stage and received 1 million yen in prize money as the MVP. During this season's regular season, his second year, he played in 108 games with a .244 batting average, 1 Home Run, and 26 RBI. He also recorded 22 stolen bases, ranking second in the league and trailing his teammate Shuto by 8.

He faced the championship battle at his 'hometown' Yokohama Stadium. After moving from Yokohama High School to Kanagawa University, he joined the team as the second draft pick in 2024. Regarding his reunion with DeNA's Watarai, who was his teammate in high school, he said, 'I am personally happy to be able to play on such a stage with a comrade I played with throughout high school.'