◇ Orix Buffaloes vs. Tohoku Rakuten Eagles, Game 1 (27th, Kyocera Dome Osaka)

Orix Buffaloes 's Seymour got his first hit since coming to Japan.

He started the game as the cleanup hitter and first baseman. In the bottom of the 7th inning, with one out and no runner base, he came up to bat for the third time. He was quickly put in a 3-strike count by the opposing starting pitcher, Kosei Shoji, but he hit the eighth pitch, a fastball, to left field for his first hit since coming to Japan.

Seymour struggled in the 14 spring training games, batting only .175. Will he be able to play a key role in the regular season?

Written by Riyoko Niwa