Nippon-Ham Fighters catcher Yuya Gunji (28) spoke on the 24th about his enthusiasm for his first opening starting line-up in his seventh professional season. After the team practice at Escon, he held a press conference and said, "This is the first time in my seven years that I'll be in the opening day starting starting line-up, so first of all, I want to play aggressively with a fresh mindset." Last season, he mainly played as the cleanup hitter and third baseman, batting .297, and earned the starting cleanup hitter and third baseman position this season. "I'm aiming for a Best Nine award at third base this season, so I'll do my best. Our main slugger is Reyes, so I'll keep that in mind, and even if I walk Reyes to first base, I want to make him think, 'Gunji, the cleanup hitter, is quite a pain,' so I hope to show that kind of performance from the opening day." He aims to be the best cleanup hitter to bring out the best in Reyes, who won two titles last season, and to win his first title.

The opponent for the opening game on the 27th is the reigning champions, Softbank Hawks who defeated them in the final stage of last season's Climax Series. "With (Yuki Kiyomiya) the team captain back, there's a real sense that it's finally starting, and the first game is at PayPay Dome, where we suffered a bitter defeat last year, so I want to remember that scene once again, or rather, I think everyone hasn't forgotten, so I want to go and get revenge," he said, burning with the desire for revenge in Fukuoka, the enemy's home ground where they suffered a bitter loss.