On the program "Pro baseball News 2026" broadcast on Fuji TV ONE on the 2nd, Tomotaka Sakaguchi and Masashi Saito commented on Masayuki Kuwahara and Kazunari Ishii, who have moved to Seibu Lions as free agents.

Sakaguchi predicted Kuwabara's success, saying, "Kuwabara is a veteran and has a lot of guts. He often batted first (when he was with The BayStars), and that gives him momentum. Even as a veteran, he still has that strength against fastball. In that sense, I think he'll be able to adjust to Pacific League baseball, which is known for its strong pitches." Saito also expressed his expectations, saying, "Kuwabara is a gutsy player and I think he has the power to liven up the team, so I'm really looking forward to it."

On the other hand, Sakaguchi said of Ishii, "He's a clever player, with the maturity you'd expect infielder. His batting also improved a lot last year. I think it will improve the team's scoring ability a little."

☆ Cooperation: Fuji TV ONE "Professional baseball News 2026"