◆Exhibition game Orix Buffaloes 3-2 Hiroshima (March 18, Kyocera Dome Osaka)

Orix Buffaloes Buffaloes manager Mamoru Kishida congratulated pitcher Andrés Machado who won the World Baseball Classic as a member of the Venezuelan national team. "First of all, congratulations. And I'd like to say thank you for your hard work," he said with a deep bow. He praised the right-hander, who pitched in six games, including all the games from the quarterfinals onward, saying, "You pitched a lot, didn't you?" While smiling wryly and saying, "He must be tired," he declared that if Machado is fully prepared, he will use him from the start of the season. "Yes, we'll do that," he replied immediately.

"We will talk. I won't know unless we talk," he said, indicating that the decision would be made after confirming the condition upon joining the group. He also expressed relief that the joining date was "quite soon," and revealed, "I've heard that they will arrive at Haneda on the 20th."