On the 10th, the Nippon Professional baseball Organization (NPB) announced the players who have declared for free agency (FA). Orix Buffaloes Ryo Ishikawa catcher, who acquired domestic FA rights this season, announced that he will remain with the team without exercising his rights. He emphasized, 'I am very happy to have obtained FA rights, but if I hadn't been allowed to continue as a player with the Orix Buffaloes, the word FA wouldn't have even come up, and there is a high possibility I would have retired much earlier. I am truly filled with gratitude. After all, I want to win with this team.'

He joined Nippon-Ham as the 8th draft pick in 2013 from Teikyo and moved to the Orix Buffaloes via trade at the end of the 2022 season. With a career record of a .182 batting average and 23 RBI over 245 professional games, he is an indispensable presence for the team as a catcher who contributes in intangible ways, such as vocal leadership from the bench and mood-making, beyond just his statistics. Expressing his feelings for the team, he said, 'I completely believe we can win with this team. After all, including my teammates and the people who support us, my feeling that this is a truly great team hasn't changed. In 그 sense, my attachment to it has only grown stronger.'

On this day, he worked up a sweat in Maishima, Osaka. He renewed his determination, saying, 'Of course, as a player, this training is for delivering performance on the ground, and since it is the spring camp in February, I believe it is about proving myself. That hasn't changed from my first year to my upcoming 14th year. If I can become a good piece for the team and play my part at the right timing, I believe I can continue to develop even more depth as a player.'