Orix Buffaloes outfielder Yutaro Sugimoto (35) envisioned a complete comeback next February on the 29th. In his 11th professional season this year, he finished without a single home run for the first time in ten years due to pain in both knees. 'My knees hurt so much that I couldn't even focus on baseball. I wasn't able to contribute to the team's strength at all...' he said, expressing his frustration and declaring that he would eliminate all concerns by the time spring training begins.

He was removed from the active roster on September 27, ending his season. He revealed that Manager Kishida told him to 'properly heal what needs to be healed and be at 100 percent by February.' After undergoing catheter treatment in October, he resumed machine batting practice in Maishima, Osaka, starting today. He joked, 'I couldn't show off my prideful speed this year (laughs). I want to recover to the point where I can contribute to the offense using my legs,' but his determination is clear.

In the off-season, he plans to focus on weight training and Pilates to become a complete player. "I'm looking forward to next year, so I'll see it as a bit positive. I'm not saying 100, I want to hit even more," he said, keeping his ambition for his 100th career home run. This season, after dropping to the B class for the first time in two years, the team Home Run is the only double-digit total in Pacific League with 96 home runs. Next season, fielder will be the oldest in 2021 Home Run Oh vowed, "Until recently, I was just being overly pressured, but lately I've been getting pushed more often (laughs). I think the team's power hitting is a challenge, so I hope I can help in that regard," he vowed to make a comeback. (Shunta Nanbu)

Wakatsuki revealed what he learned from the Japan Series. After finishing a season where he was in full rotation since the WBC before the opening, the cornerstone of the team was exempted from autumn practice for the first time in his 13-year career. 'Half of me was watching as a fan, while the other half was seeing things anew, like thinking if we attack this way, this is what happens,' he said, appearing to have gained hints regarding pitch calling. Having played in the championship series for three consecutive years from 2021 to 2023 when the team won three straight titles, he added, 'I felt a sense of crisis about what would happen if we couldn't make it there for a long time.' With the goal of defeating the Softbank Hawks in mind, he intends to update both his mental game and his skills.