◆Pre-season game Softbank Hawks Yakult (3rd, Mizuho PayPay)

Softbank Hawks manager Hiroki Kokubo spoke to reporters during pre-game practice on the 3rd and revealed that pitcher Yugo Maeda, who avoided starting that day due to poor health, will be removed from the competition for the opening day starting rotation. "It's not possible anymore, for now. If he continues with rehabilitation like this, it will be a bit tough. He's not even on the starting line," he said. The third-year left-hander will start over from the farm team.

The 2023 first-round draft pick, a graduate of Osaka Toin High School, trained under Mets pitcher Senga during his voluntary training and improved his pitching form. He was aiming to be included in the opening rotation for the first time. He started in the send-off game against Samurai Japan on February 22nd (Sunmarine Miyazaki), but was taken out midway through the second inning after giving up seven hit and six runs. The opening game of the home exhibition season was supposed to be an opportunity to demonstrate his fresh start.