◆Pre-season game Nippon-Ham and Seibu Lions (5th, Escon F)

Nippon-Ham The 4th ranked rookie Minato Handa (Minato) infielder (Nichidai Fujisawa) and the 1st ranked player in the draft Hiroki Tsuneya infielder (Hokkai Gakuen University) joined the 1st team. Both made their first appearances in open games.

Before the game against Lotte (Ace Contest) on the 7th, there was an event to introduce the new players, so he joined the first team early. After practice, Handa said, "I was able to feel the high level of the first team once again. I want to keep doing my best so that I don't forget the atmosphere of Ace Contest and can come back here as soon as I go back to Kamagaya."

Handa, who was told by Coach Shinjo to "remember the atmosphere of this ESCON," became the defense of shortstop from the 7th inning. At the same time, Tokiya also entered the defense of third base and defended Miyuma as a rookie. Toneya went to bat in the 8th inning and threw a grounder. Handa also entered the plate with 2 outs and 1st base in the 8th inning and persisted with a foul, but fell to a swing struck out on the 9th pitch from full count.