Rakuten Eagles catcher Hikaru Ota revealed on the 27th his intention to exercise the domestic free agent (FA) rights he acquired this season. When asked about the FA rights he obtained, he stated clearly, "What has been decided is that I intend to declare (FA)."

While his attachment and gratitude toward the team are strong, he wants to consider new options at this turning point in his baseball career. He explained the circumstances, saying, 'Rakuten Eagles offered me really good terms, including a multi-year contract, and I accepted those feelings. I am also very grateful for being allowed to play for eight years and for being able to earn this right. However, the desire to hear the opinions of other teams did not go away. I haven't officially declared it yet, but I have made the decision to exercise my rights.'

He joined the team from Osaka University of Commerce as a second-round draft pick in 2018 and has been active in the first team since his first year, using his high defense ability as a weapon. In his eight-year professional career, he has appeared in a total of 708 games. This season, he played in 100 games and supported the team. His salary for this season is an estimated 58 million yen, and if he decides to exercise his rights in the future, it could lead to a bidding war among multiple teams.