◆Exhibition game Yakult 4-3 Nippon-Ham (21st, ES CON FIELD)
Nippon-Ham infielder Kotaro Kiyomiya and outfielder Chusei Mannami will join the team for the final exhibition game against Yakult Swallows on the 22nd (at Escon Stadium), manager Tsuyoshi Shinjo has confirmed.
Yuki Kiyomiya injured his right elbow in the middle of spring training and was diagnosed with right elbow arthritis on February 21. Manami's batting performance had not improved, and he had been adjusting in the minor leagues. Kiyomiya had 5 At Bat and 3 Home Run in 15 hit over 5 games, and Manami also had 11 hit At Bat 19 at-bats over 5 games, for a batting average of .579, earning them promotion.
When asked what he wanted to check in the final open game, manager Shinjo said, "There's nothing in particular. Manami and Kiyomiya will be coming tomorrow, so I'd like them to play. (Their condition is) good. Extremely good," expressing his expectations.
![[Photo] Appraised at 80 million yen! Manager Shinjo arrives in a Lamborghini!](https://hochi.news/images/2025/10/11/20251011-OHT1I51033-L.jpg)
![[Nippon-Ham] Hiromi Ito, returning from Samurai Japan, pitched 5 innings, allowing 3 hit and 2 runs strike out 8, clearing his mind of anxieties ahead of the opening day: "I was able to confirm what I needed to confirm."](https://hochi.news/images/2026/03/21/20260321-OHT1I51247-L.jpg)
![[Nippon-Ham] Hiromi Ito, returning from Samurai Japan, will start in his first and last exhibition game appearance as the opening day pitcher.](https://hochi.news/images/2026/03/21/20260321-OHT1I51119-L.jpg)
![[Nippon-Ham] Manager Tsuyoshi Shinjo gave manager Takahiro Ikeyama a mask as a gift: "It looked a little big. Also..."](https://hochi.news/images/2026/03/20/20260320-OHT1I51321-L.jpg)
![[Nippon-Ham] Manager Tsuyoshi Shinjo praises pitcher Kota Tatsu 's excellent performance: "As always, there's nothing more to say (laughs). There's nothing to add."](https://hochi.news/images/2026/03/20/20260320-OHT1I51301-L.jpg)
