◆ WBC warm-up match Orix Buffaloes and Japan (2nd, Kyocera Dome Osaka)

On the 2nd, Samurai Japan pitcher Hiroya Miyagi had a long-awaited reunion with his teammates from Orix Buffaloes before a game. He greeted fellow Samurai Japan pitcher Ryuhei Sotani and gave a smiling hug to outfielder Yusuke Mugitani.

During Samurai Japan's practice, he was seen talking with Yoshinobu Yamamoto of the Dodgers as a "former master and disciple" duo. During the batting practice, former Orix Buffaloes and Red Sox player Masataka Yoshida was energetic, hitting a huge home run into the fifth-tier seats. He delighted Orix Buffaloes fans even before the game started.

Miyagi started in the send-off game against Chunichi on the 27th and pitched well, allowing no runs in three innings. He is likely to be used as the second starter after Yamamoto in the World Baseball Classic (WBC) opener against Taiwan on the 6th (Tokyo Dome).