◆Exhibition game: DeNA 7-1 Seibu Lions (21st, Belluna Dome)

Seibu Lions 's second-year right-handed pitcher, Hibiki Shinohara (19), is increasingly likely to become part of the team's win formula.

In this game, he took the mound as the 5th from the 9th inning with 5 runs behind. From 2nd out and 3rd base, Shibata hit a timely hit in the middle and lost 1 run, and expressed his frustration, saying, "I don't want to be hit where I know that if I get hit, I will score a run if I do closer in the season, so I don't want to be hit where I know that if I get hit, I will score." However, the follow-up was cut off and no further points were allowed. After the game, Coach Nishiguchi said, "So far, I decided to go in that direction from an early stage," and revealed his intention to play a part in the win equation. The right-hander himself said, "I want to go to an important place because I want to do (reliever)," and revealed his determination for the second year as a reliever.

Shinohara joined Seibu Lions in 2024 as the fifth pick in the draft from Fukui Institute of Technology Fukui High School. Last season, he made two starts, but with Taira, who served as the closer last season, switching back to a starting role, and Yamada, who appeared in 49 games as part of the winning pattern, being sidelined due to poor physical condition, Shinohara has been pitching mainly as reliever this spring.