[Rakuten Eagles] Hikaru Ito was the starting catcher in his first exhibition game since the transfer, but went At Bat in one at starting line-up hit. He exercised his overseas free agent rights and joined the team. | Pacific League

[Rakuten Eagles] Hikaru Ito was starting line-up in his first exhibition game since the transfer, but was hit one at-At Bat. He exercised his overseas free agent rights and joined the team.

Sports Hochi

March 12, 2026 14:37

Hikaru Ito touches base with Naoto Nishiguchi (right) after pitching the first inning (photographer: Tomomi Watanabe)

◆Pre-season Rakuten Eagles and Nippon-Ham (12th, Shizuoka)

Hikaru Ito catcher who exercised his overseas free agent (FA) rights and moved from DeNA to Rakuten Eagles was starting line-up masked in an open game for the first time since his transfer and was 1 At Bat no hit.

In his first at-bat in the second inning, with the team trailing by one point, he hit a fastball from Rao but hit a fly ball to center field. He was replaced by Horiuchi in the fifth defense and returned to the bench.

Hikaru Ito joined Orix Buffaloes as a third-round draft pick in 2007. He transferred to DeNA midway through the 2018 season. He played in 1,063 NPB games, batting .235 with 262 RBI and 30 Home Run.