◆Exhibition game Orix Buffaloes 2-6 Hanshin Tigers (March 20, Kyocera Dome Osaka)

Orix Buffaloes pitcher Shumpeita Yamashita will be sidelined due to a right elbow condition issue, it was decided on the 20th. He will skip his scheduled start against Hanshin Tigers Tigers (Kyocera Dome Osaka) that day. Manager Mamoru Kishida explained, "It's nothing too serious, but he will be focusing on treatment. We're taking precautions. If there are no concerns, he will be back."

In 2013, he only made four appearances, suffering a lower back injury due to his growth during an exhibition game against The Giants on March 7th (Kyocera Dome Osaka). This season, his sixth as a professional, he has been repeatedly practicing to throw powerful pitches consistently with a form that doesn't strain his lower back, and has shown promising form since spring training. The 161 km/h right-hander made two appearances in exhibition games, pitching a total of 10 2/3 innings and giving up 3 runs. The previous day, the 19th, he was working on strengthening his muscles at the team's facility in Maishima, Osaka.

The manager announced that day that he would entrust the starting pitcher role for the game Rakuten Eagles on the 27th to ace Miyagi, who is returning from the WBC. At the same time, he revealed his outlook, saying, "I don't think (Yamashita) will be able to return that quickly. We will shift (the starting rotation)." With the long season in mind, they are taking every precaution.