Orix Buffaloes Alen Kuri pitcher (34) promised a "super-full rotation" as the axis of the starting lineup on the 25th. Following ace Miyagi in the opening game of the season, the veteran right-hander was assigned to start the second game on the 28th against Kyocera D. "I don't have any problem with the interval between appearances being shortened," he said. He said, "I don't have any problem if the pitching interval is shortened. I just want to pitch for the team," he vowed. pitcher Rakuten Eagles

In 2025, the year he joined the team as a free agent from Hiroshima, he recorded a team-high 11 wins. He emphasized, "I want to make double-digit wins my minimum goal." No pitcher has ever moved from the Central League to Pacific League League as a free agent and achieved double-digit win for two consecutive years from their first year (the only exception being Hanshin's Hanshin Tigers Yuji in 2019 and 2020 when moving from the Pacific to the Central). Kuri won the most wins title in 2021, so if he wins the most wins in both leagues, he will be the first in history.

On this day, he threw 40 pitches in bullpen at Kyocera Dome. "I felt pretty good overall. I have to keep my goals high," he said, once again setting his sights on reaching 230 inning. Manager Kishida also counts on his toughness, calling him "the core of our starting rotation." A super-exciting year is about to begin. (Toru Nagata)