Softbank Hawks infielder Taisei Makihara visited Mizuho PayPay Dome on the 14th and spoke about his enthusiasm for next season. He spoke candidly about his feelings regarding his decision to stay with the team without exercising his domestic free agent (FA) rights. He honestly admitted, "I also had a strong desire to go and play for another team." Explaining his reasoning, he said, "It is because The Hawks are too strong. Winning the championship has become an obligation, hasn't it? I thought it might be good to go to another team and aim for the championship once again." In the end, he reached his decision, stating, "I feel the pressure of absolutely having to win the championship, but I will turn that pressure into strength."

There were times when his feelings leaned toward a transfer. However, he said, 'It wasn't so much my own decision as it was the voices around me,' noting that the overwhelming majority of his family and friends wished for him to play for the Softbank Hawks. As the only player in both leagues to achieve a batting average of .300 or higher for two consecutive years across last season and this season, he expressed his enthusiasm, saying, 'I want to keep improving so that I can achieve even better numbers next year.'