On the 9th, the Orix Buffaloes announced the appointment of Kazuki Kondo as the second-team pitcher coach.

Kondo joined Kintetsu as the 7th draft pick in 2001 and played for the Orix Buffaloes from 2005 until midway through 2016. He transferred to Yakult in mid-2016 and won the title of Best reliever pitcher in 2018. He retired from active play at the end of 2022, and after retirement, he was active as a baseball commentator and coach.