It was learned on the 19th that Orix Buffaloes Buffaloes pitcher Shumpeita Yamashita (23) will skip the game against Hanshin Tigers on the 20th (at Kyocera Dome). He will prioritize his conditioning and will take precautions by not pitching. It seems that a careful decision will also be made regarding his inclusion in the opening day rotation.

In 2025, he was limited to just four appearances on the mound due to a lower back injury that occurred during his growth spurt. This season, his sixth as a professional, he has overcome the injury and has been showing promising form since spring training. He also made two appearances in the open games, throwing 65 and 95 pitches respectively, and in the game against Lotte on the 11th (at ZOZO Marine Stadium), he gave up 3 runs in 5 2/3 innings. On this day, he worked on strengthening his muscles at the team's facility in Maishima, Osaka.

The opening day pitcher for the game against Rakuten Eagles on the 27th (Kyocera Dome) is still undecided. Yamashita is a candidate along with Kuri, and ace Miyagi, who is returning from the WBC, is also scheduled to pitch in the game against Hanshin Tigers on the 21st (Kyocera Dome). Looking ahead to the long season, the power of the 161 km/h right-hander is indispensable. They are taking every precaution.