outfielder Tokumasa Chano (27), who was released by Seibu Lions, expressed his desire to continue playing professionally on the 26th.

On this day, after receiving the notice at the team office in Tokorozawa City, Saitama, he visited the indoor practice facility where autumn training was being held to greet his teammates. Having received the notice just one year after transferring from the Orix Buffaloes via the active player draft in the 2025 off-season, he revealed his honest feelings, saying, 'I was prepared for this. Since that kind of thing often happens within a year in the active player draft, I thought it was even more likely to happen.'

Chano expressed his gratitude toward the Seibu Lions, saying, "Even when I first transferred here, everyone spoke to me kindly from the start, and I truly feel it is a warm team, including both the players and the staff." Regarding his future, he hopes to "continue his active career" and plans to continue his training, stating, "I want to keep moving my body and work hard, with an eye toward things like tryouts."

He joined the Orix Buffaloes as the 4th pick in the 2022 developmental draft from the Shikoku Island League Tokushima, and in his first professional year, he became the first rookie from a developmental background in history to be in the opening starting line-up. He appeared in 91 games, including hitting a bases loaded home run in June, which was also a historical first for someone of his background. In this season, his fourth professional year after transferring to the Seibu Lions, he was limited to 16 games, finishing with a batting average of .143 and 1 hit.