◇Saitama Seibu Lions vs. Yokohama DeNA exhibition game (21st, Belluna Dome)

Saitama Seibu Lions 's first-round draft pick, rookie Taiga Kojima, recorded his first hit in the preseason games.

Kojima, who had been hitless in 9 At Bat hit since joining the team on the 13th, started starting line-up as the number 9 batter and catcher, and the long-awaited moment came in his second at-bat in the bottom of the 6th inning. With a 1-1 count, he connected with breaking ball from pitcher Louise and sent it to left field. It was his first hit of the preseason in his 12th at-bat.

On the other hand, as catcher, he partnered with pitcher Kaima Taira and was unable to control the game, giving up 4 hits, 5 hit, 2 Walk strike out 4 runs (2 earned runs) in 5 innings. He is keenly aware of the challenges of professional baseball, but it remains to be seen whether he can impress both offensively and defensively and earn a starting starting line-up on opening day.

Written by Aoi Nishijima