On the 26th, the Seibu Lions announced that they will dispatch three players, pitcher Haruse Narita, pitcher Keishin Saito, and outfielder Yuta Nakamisa, to the Puerto Rico Winter League.

In the team, outfielder Shinya Hasegawa and pitcher Taishi Mameda, who performed well last season, also have experience being dispatched.

Comments from the three players are as follows:

[Haruse Narita]

In order to meet the team's expectations and make a leap forward next season, I decided to participate in the Puerto Rican league to gain various experiences. I am not sure how I will be utilized there, but I want to make the most of my strengths even at a high level and act as a closer against the opposing hitter. Through this winter league, I hope to refine my skills, deepen my knowledge, and return as a more developed player.

[Keishin Saito]

I want to make next year a year of taking on challenges. In order to earn a spot on the 70-man roster, I volunteered to participate in the high-level Winter League, hoping to grow even further. I want to level up one or two more steps and increase my repertoire. Along with achieving good results in this Winter League, I will work hard to gain the skills necessary to be called up for the first-team camp in Nango, so that I can start next year in the first-team camp.

Yuta Nakamitsu

I volunteered to participate in the winter league to overcome the challenge of handling powerful fastballs, which I felt when I was promoted to the first team this April. I believe that if I can consistently hit fastballs, I will be able to think more simply at the plate. Also, since I will be facing pitchers I have never played against before, my goal is to develop the ability to adapt to new opponents with an eye toward the first-team stage. I felt frustrated this season because I couldn't break into the first-team roster. I will work hard to grow in this winter league so that I can show my presence among the core players during next spring's camp.