Softbank Hawks pitcher Taiga Kamichatani started in the Red-White game at the Miyazaki training camp on the 15th, closer six hitter in two innings. Manager Hiroki Kokubo commented, "Kamicha has been good all year, and he produced results in the game today, but he's been toning up quite a bit (before training camp). But his output hasn't dropped. He's on our team, but he was able to respond to (catcher 's) request to throw to the inside pitch. You don't pitch there in an Red-White game unless you're confident. His control of the inside pitch is his strength. He threw it solidly. I think he has a good chance (of joining the starting rotation)." He praised Uechatani as a candidate to join the starting rotation in the absence of Arihara.

Uechatani, 29 years old this year, joined Softbank Hawks from DeNA in the active player draft in December 2012. In his first season since the transfer, he was delayed due to right elbow cleaning surgery in February, and only made eight appearances as reliever. Until 2022, he was primarily used as a starter at DeNA.