◆Exhibition game: Chunichi Dragons vs. Nippon-Ham (19th, Chatan)

Nippon-Ham Fighters manager Tsuyoshi Shinjo inspected the rubber wall at Agre Stadium Chatan, where the team played a practice game. Last year, Chunichi Dragons pitcher Higuchi crashed into wall during a practice game. After seeing this, Shinjo requested that the wall be replaced with a rubber one to prioritize safety.

Manager Shinjo, who walked along outfield wall to check it out, commented on the renovated wall, "I'm very grateful for the move, but in my mind, it would have been better if the rubber was about 190cm high. That one is about 160cm high, and there's a net that would hurt your face and neck if you hit it. I think that was best," pointing out some issues, but also thanking the renovation to protect the players, saying, "It was much softer." He added, "The best thing is to play in a way that doesn't allow you to hit it."