Orix Buffaloes pitcher Shu Takaya attended contract renewal negotiations at the player dormitory in Maishima, Osaka on the 9th, and signed for an estimated annual salary of 7 million yen, which remains unchanged.

After attending Sapporo Nichidai and Hokkai Gakuen University, he joined the team as the 5th draft pick in 2025. On April 3rd, in a game against Nippon-Ham (ES CON FIELD), he made his professional debut in his hometown, but failed to produce results, allowing 5 hits and 5 runs in one inning. After being removed from the active roster the following day on the 4th, he suffered from poor right shoulder conditioning and was unable to earn a promotion back to the top team. His rookie year ended with only one game appearance, and he expressed his frustration, saying, 'Due to injury, I couldn't become an asset for the first team. My fastball couldn't get any swings and misses at all at the first-team level.'

His goal for next season, his second year as a professional, is to break into the competition among the pitcher staff. During the off-season, he plans to conduct independent training with Kudo from Hiroshima and others to focus on self-improvement. The right-hander, who boasts a maximum speed of 153 km/h, expressed his determination, saying, 'I want to contribute to the team's championship victory as a key player on the first-team roster.'