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

Softbank Hawks Hawks outfielder Ukyo Shuto and infielder Taisei Makihara, who had been participating in the WBC as representatives of Japan, rejoined the team on the 18th. Isami Nomura, and Ryoya Kurihara, who had multiple hit, immediately revealed the "effects" of their return.

With three runs on base and one out in the 8th inning, Nomura took Chunichi Katsuno's first pitch and drove it to right-center field. Nomura himself said, "I don't think there are many people who can home run hit a ball like that with right-handed hitter, so I think my strengths came out. After the game, he said, "When I went to change in the back during the game, I was told, 'Your upper body (half-body) is too strong. I was told to hit it more like a long tee to the right center field, so I did just that.

Kurihara, who hit doble to right-center in the fourth inning and two hit to left field in the sixth, smiled and said, "I think it was good that I got to see [Shuto] Yuki's face." With the WBC players now rejoining the team, The Hawks are finally heading into the season with a complete roster.