◆ Pacific League: Orix Buffaloes vs. Rakuten Eagles (29th, Kyocera Dome Osaka)

Rakuten Eagles 's 1st place in the draft, Sota Fujiwara pitcher (22) = Hanazono University = was KO with 8 hit, 24 Hit by Pitch, 4 runs. He was "baptized" in his first professional start. In the top of the first inning, he received 2 runs and was a right-hander who went up to mound, but he allowed a left-handed hit to Mune in the lead, a right-handed hit to Hirooka, and a timely hit to Nishikawa in the middle of the field, and contributed 1 run on 5 pitches. In addition, Ota was given a Walk, and from a pinch with no out bases loaded s, Nakagawa hit a timely hit and was reversed.

He couldn't throw strike with breaking ball, and every fastball that was thrown in too easily was hit hard.

In the second inning, with one out, he allowed a single to Kurebayashi, then hit So with Hit by Pitch, putting runner in scoring position. On the second pitch to Hirooka, he was called for a balk, putting runners on second and third with one out. He then allowed a timely single to left field by Hirooka, giving up a fourth run.

It was a bittersweet debut that made me realize the harsh realities of being a professional.