Rakuten Eagles announced that they have notified pitcher Shota Watanabe, pitcher Kosei Koga, catcher Tsuyoshi Ishihara, catcher Toshiya Osakae, infielder Daiki Irie, and infielder Kyosuke Kaneko that their player contracts will not be renewed for the 2027 season.

Watanabe joined the Rakuten Eagles as the third-round draft pick in 2022. In his first year in 2023, he made 51 appearances and showed great performance with 8 wins, 3 losses, 25 holds, 1 save, and an ERA of 2.40. The following year in 2024, he appeared in 49 games and recorded 7 wins, 2 losses, 12 holds, and an ERA of 3.04, but this season he lacked his usual brilliance, appearing in 6 games with an ERA of 10.50.

▼ Players who have been released

pitcher

Shota Watanabe

Kosei Koga

catcher

Tsuyoshi Ishihara

Toshiya Osakae

infielder

Daiki Irie

Kyosuke Kaneko