Orix Buffaloes infielder Keita Nakagawa exercised his domestic free agent (FA) rights on the 5th. He submitted the documents to the club on this day. He commented, 'Today, I have completed the procedures to exercise my FA rights. When I entered the world of professional baseball as a seventh-round draft pick, I did not think I would become a player who could obtain FA rights. I am truly grateful to the club officials and all the fans.'

Nakagawa, in his eighth year as a professional, acquired domestic free agent rights this July. He candidly shared his feelings, saying, 'I am very happy to have been able to obtain these FA rights after being a seventh-round draft pick, as it makes me feel like I have truly made it as a professional.' After graduating from PL Gakuen and Toyo University, he entered the professional league in 2019. He has since made his mark as a skilled hitter.

In his first year as a professional, he recorded a batting average of .386 during the interleague games, becoming the first rookie in history to win the interleague leading hitter title. Although registered as an infielder, he secured a regular spot in the outfield starting in 2022. Former manager Nakajima (currently Senior Director), who led the team to three consecutive Pacific League championships starting in 2021, described him as 'Invincible Nakagawa.' This nickname became well-established among fans as he continued to refine his batting skills.

Last year, he played in every batting order from 1st to 9th, recording strong results with a .284 batting average, 12 Home Runs, and 53 RBI. He received his first Best Nine award, establishing an unshakable status in terms of both ability and popularity. His 100 million yen salary is considered B-rank, which involves human or financial compensation, and the Hanshin Tigers, who are based in the same Kansai region, have been conducting an investigation behind the scenes in case Nakagawa declares free agency. The fact that he has great speed and can play in the outfield or at first base also makes him a good fit for Central League baseball.

Nakagawa commented, "When I imagined myself after finishing my life as a player, I decided to exercise my free agency rights because I wanted to make a decision without regrets. I want to take my time to think about how I will spend my future baseball life."