Rakuten Eagles infielder Rui Muneyama turned 23 on the 27th and reflected on the year since he turned professional.

Last season, he played in 122 games, batting .260 with 3 Home Run and 27 RBI. He was awarded the Best Nine award at shortstop and reflected, "Right now I'm in the stage of trying out various things. I want to connect those experiences to good ones in actual games."

When asked about his goals as a 23-year-old, he said, "I'm strict with myself, and the season is long, so I'm sure there will be changes in my physical condition and other things, but I want to continue doing what I have to do without wavering."

In response to the news that Chunichi and Yuto Kanemaru pitcher were called up to the Samurai Japan team as replacements for Hiroki Matsui pitcher of the Padres, who withdrew due to poor condition, he said, "The WBC is one of my goals, so I will watch the video and imagine that I will be a player who can make it next time without any complaints. I hope to make the NPB more exciting with young players," he said.