Orix Buffaloes pitcher Seiryu Kotajima entered contract negotiations on the 9th at the player dormitory in Maishima, Osaka, and signed for an estimated annual salary of 22 million yen, a decrease of 5 million yen.

This season, aiming for a full comeback from the right elbow surgery he underwent in September 2025, he made the Opening Day roster for the third consecutive year. However, after being removed from the active roster on April 17, he injured his left side in May while adjusting in the farm league. He returned to the first team in August but finished with a career-low 10 appearances, recording 3 holds and an ERA of 6.00. 'My form collapsed because my elbow didn't feel right, and as I tried various things, I fell behind and ended up getting injured from overwork... In my baseball life, I haven't had many seasons as painful as this one,' he said, expressing his frustration.

His goal for next season is to pitch in high-pressure relief situations once again. 'This is also an experience. I don't know how many years I can keep going, but I want to struggle with all my might now so that I can look back and feel that I am where I am today because of this season,' he said, planning to focus on strengthening his lower body and building a foundation during the off-season. The right-hander, who excelled as a pillar of the bullpen in 2024, became only the second rookie in history (and the first in the Pacific League) to achieve '50 or more appearances and an ERA in the 0.00 range' (recording an ERA of 0.79 over 50 games). 'I want to show an evolved version of myself. People will inevitably have an image of me from my first year, but I have to go beyond that image,' he said with renewed determination.