WBC training match Orix Buffaloes and Korea (3rd, Kyocera Dome Osaka)

Orix Buffaloes will face the South Korean national team. Play is scheduled for noon. On the 2nd, win Japan in a night game, but about 14 hours later they'll face their rivals in Samurai Japan. Manager Mamoru Kishida attended the pre-game press conference. He revealed that Nishikawa, Ota, Kurebayashi, and Seymour will be used in the top batting order, saying, "We'll be putting players who we want to secure at-bats in the top batting order." Regarding pitcher staff, he announced that 41-year-old pitcher coach Yoshihisa Hirano will be pitching, saying, "I want to check his condition." He expressed his enthusiasm, saying, "I think South Korea plays a power baseball, so we don't want to be defeated by that power."

When asked by the Korean media about Korean national team players to watch, he replied, "I know Lee Jeong-ho and Kim Hye-sung are great players," but as he was unable to watch the match between the Korean national team and Hanshin Tigers on the 2nd, he couldn't give a detailed answer and gave a wry smile. "Other Korean players I know are Park Chan-ho, Lee Seung-yeop, and Lee Dae-ho. I had the opportunity to play with them, and they were all nice guys," he said, tactfully naming three players who also played for Orix Buffaloes.