◆ Pacific League Orix Buffaloes 6-0 Rakuten Eagles (28th, Kyocera Dome Osaka)

Orix Buffaloes 's Noguchi showed his tenacity after coming in as a defense. In the 7th inning with two outs and runners on first and third, immediately after taking the field at shortstop, he came up to bat for the first time in the season. On a 1-strike, he swung at Tanaka Chihiro's outside fastball and, although he broke his bat, sent a timely doble down the left field line for the fifth run. "I was able to hit it with full force," he said, recalling the feeling in his hands.

In the minor leagues, he posted impressive results with 7 At Bat in 13 hit for a batting average of .538, earning him a spot on the opening day starting line-up for the first time since 2023 when he was a starter. He seized the opportunity when regular short stop Kurebayashi, two years his junior, went hitless in 2 At Bat hit and was replaced. Manager Kishida praised him, saying, "That hit was really significant." On the other hand, he also urged Kurebayashi to step up, saying, "Beni (Kurebayashi) hasn't quite found his rhythm yet. I wonder what he thinks about being replaced."

Noguchi, who joined the team as the second overall pick in the 2021 draft and is now in his fifth year, declared, "This is a competition. I will do my best every day." Not content with being a backup to Kurebayashi, he is ambitiously aiming for a regular position. (Shunta Nanbu)