◆Exhibition game: Softbank Hawks 3-5 Chunichi (March 18, Mizuho PayPay Dome)

Softbank Hawks 's second pitcher, Hikaru Kimura, delivered a good relief performance.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, with the score tied 1-1 and two outs with runners on first and second base, he took mound in place of the starting Hsu Jo-Hsi, Xu Ruoxi. It was a tense situation where one hit could give the opposing team the lead. He walked Itayama with four consecutive balls, loading Walk with two bases loaded, but he managed to get Sano closer a foul fly ball to third base, putting out the fire brilliantly.

In the game The Giants on the 12th (at Mizuho PayPay Dome), he took the mound in the 7th inning with two outs and runners on first and second base, trailing 0-1, and closer runs. Manager Kokubo also trusts the right-hander, saying, "He's pitcher who comes in when there runner on base, even during the regular season." Kimura himself nodded, saying, "The regular season is starting now, so my mindset is the same as during the regular season. I'm not trying to experiment with anything, I'm just focused on getting results."

He boasts exceptional consistency, having pitched five runs appearances in the preseason games. He is also eager to become the "seventh inning man" in the win formula, saying, "I want to become the kind of player they can entrust with that role." He continues to calmly keep the score at zero.