Orix Buffaloes Kenya Wakatsuki catcher Kenta Wakatsuki, who participated in the World Baseball Classic, rejoined the team on the 18th for their game against the Hiroshima Carp (at Kyocera Dome). He has set off for the start of the season. Although he will not be in the dugout, he has already been actively participating in pre-game practice, starting with early batting practice. He said, "I really felt the difference in skill between myself and the Major Leaguers. I'm fired up to work even harder."

He reflected on the WBC, saying, "It was a great experience in every way, and I received a lot of inspiration." He also spoke about his impressions of experiencing international rules such as the pitch clock and pitchcom. The Samurai Japan team, especially the battery, practiced thoroughly during training camps and exhibition games. Nevertheless, he revealed his true feelings, saying, "I thought I was used to it, but I wasn't. I thought I could do it, but when it came to the actual game, I think I wasn't able to use it effectively."

There were times when he "gave signals while feeling very flustered," and he keenly felt that he lacked "experience." On the other hand, he was impressed by the smooth response of players from other countries, including Venezuela, whom he played against. The introduction of this system is being discussed in Japanese baseball, and as someone with experience, he offered his opinion, saying, "I think there are quite a few advantages. If we want to win in tournaments like the WBC, I think we need to get used to it. If we are going to play according to the rules of international tournaments, we have to adapt."