◆Pre-season Rakuten Eagles 1-3 Nippon-Ham (11th, Shizuoka)

After the game, Nippon-Ham manager Tsuyoshi Shinjo (54) spoke about infielder Kotaro Kiyomiya (26), who returned to action for the first time in about three weeks in a game against Oisix in the second-division training league (Kamagaya). Kiyomiya suddenly missed a practice game against the Chunichi Dragons on February 19th during the team's Nago training camp. He was later diagnosed with arthritis in his right elbow at a hospital in Nago City and told he would be about three weeks away from returning to action. "Well, it's all about the results, the content, and the games. He's probably losing all his feeling, so I'll have to wait and see how he plays in seven or eight games. I think he'll start to feel stiff." Regarding an early reunion with the first team, Shinjo replied with a serious look, "No, not at all."

Sachi Kiyomiya entered the game at "No. 2, DH" and gave up a double in the first at bat, missed struck out in the second, and was replaced in the third when a substitute batter was sent in.