It was decided on the 8th that Kazuki Kondo (43), a former member of the team, will be appointed as the pitcher coach for the Orix Buffaloes. This marks his return to his former team for the first time in 11 years. Kondo won the Koshien championship with Nichidai San High School in the summer of 2001 and joined Kintetsu as a 7th-round draft pick that same year. Following the team merger, he played for the Orix Buffaloes starting in 2005. He was traded to Yakult in the middle of 2016. He appeared in a total of 347 games as both a starter and a reliever, notably winning his first Best Reliever award in 2018.

Although he has no coaching experience in the NPB, he has provided instruction across a wide range of categories, including independent leagues and student baseball. He is primarily expected to focus on developing young players and is scheduled to join the autumn training in Maishima, Osaka, in the coming days.