On the 29th, the Softbank Hawks announced that they would not be renewing the contract of outfielder Riku Ogata (28) for the next season. He appeared as a pinch runner in the first game of the Japan Series on the 28th, where the team defeated DeNA for their fourth consecutive win, but remained out of the dugout from the second game onwards. 'I was prepared for this. I believe I can still play,' he said, expressing a strong desire to continue his career.

He joined the team from Komazawa University as the fifth pick in the 2020 developmental draft. He was promoted to the main roster in March 2024, and in 2025, he appeared in a career-high 101 games, primarily as a pinch runner and for defense reinforcement. This season, he was limited to appearing in 14 games.