Softbank Hawks pitcher Naoyuki Uwasawa expressed his enthusiasm for the game against Nippon-Ham on the 27th (at Mizuho PayPay Dome), where he will be making his third career opening day pitcher.

On this day, the team held a full practice at Mizuho PayPay Dome. Facing a major role he will play again, following his time with Nippon-Ham in 2019 and 2021, he stated calmly, "I personally have a strong desire to be a key player this year, so I want to do my best." With Arihara, who won 14 games last season, having moved to Nippon-Ham, he is expected to be a pillar of the right-handed rotation. He revealed that he feels confident about the improvements he has made to his fork this offseason and his new form, which involves bringing the glove to his right hip, saying, "It really feels like I'm able to pitch normally in the spring for the first time in over a decade. I'm looking forward to it, and ultimately, what matters most is what kind of results I can achieve in the regular season. I'm really looking forward to it." He is leaving no stone unturned in his preparations.

This season marks his 15th year as a professional. Having failed win (1 loss) in his previous two opening day pitcher, he will focus on "doing things as usual" this time. "I really want to do things as usual, but if I get too worked up, I won't be able to do things as usual. I just want to be able to pitch in a way that I can enjoy." He will stay calm and composed as he takes on his former team.