Orix Buffaloes manager Mamoru Kishida (44) has revealed his plan to have his struggling key fielder participate in the farm league games against the Hanshin Tigers (Kyocera Dome) starting on the 24th. In the open season, which ended with an 8-5-1 record, Sugimoto had a batting average of .067 with 1 hit in 15 at hit At Bat, and Kurebayashi had a batting average of .071 with 2 At Bat in 28 hit. After the game against Hanshin Tigers on the 22nd (at the same venue), the manager explained his intention to "extra inning" the games, saying, "They are scheduled to play. We will make good use of the farm team's games at Kyocera Dome."

Last season, Nishikawa struggled in the preseason games, At Bat 2-hit 39 with a batting average of .051, and volunteered to play in the Western League game against Hanshin Tigers on the 25th. In that game, he got his first hit in 29 at hit, which gave him a chance to recover, and in the first five games of the season, he showed a completely different, "unpredictable hitting" performance, going 11-At Bat-20 with a batting average of .550, including three multi-hit. The team will hold full team practice at Kyocera Dome for three days starting on the 24th. There are significant advantages to facing his slump in a minor league game at the same home stadium as the Rakuten Eagles game against Rakuten on the 27th, with manager Kishida watching.

In the game against Hanshin Tigers on the 22nd, the manager substituted Noguchi for Kurebayashi with pinch hitter in the 7th inning with two outs and a short stop on second base. "(Was it meant to motivate him?) That was part of it," he said, encouraging the players to step up. The presence of slugger Sugimoto and starting shortstop Kurebayashi is indispensable for the team to reclaim the championship for the first time in three years after finishing third. They will do everything they can to prepare for the opening of the season. (Shunta Nanbu)

〇…Kurebayashi vowed to recover his form before the season opener. The starting short stop, who finished the open season with a batting average of .071, is scheduled to play in the farm team games against Hanshin Tigers (Kyocera Dome) starting on the 24th. "In farm team games, I can really go all out. I'm only thinking about getting in shape and I want to eliminate my weaknesses," he said, picturing the game. He also expressed gratitude for manager Kishida's "fatherly concern" in giving him this opportunity to overcome his slump. "I was planning to ask to play myself, so I'm really grateful. There are three or four days (until the season opener), so I really have to do my best," he said, showing his awareness of the responsibility.