Rakuten Eagles catcher Hikaru Ota revealed on the 9th that he has completed the procedures to apply for the domestic free agency rights he acquired this season.

Ota had expressed his intention to exercise his rights on October 27, and during autumn practice today at Rakuten Eagles Mobile Saikyo Park, he spoke with the press and officially stated that he had completed the application process, saying, "While I am certainly grateful to the club, I also want to hear what other teams have to say." Regarding his future, he added, "I want to consider all options, including the possibility of staying with the team after declaring free agency."