◆ Pacific League Seibu Lions 0-4 Orix Buffaloes (August 1st, Belluna Dome)

For Seibu Lions 's first-round draft pick, catcher Taiga Kojima (Meiji University), these two days were like "heaven and hell."

In the same game on April 1, when he started as "No. 6 catcher" for the second consecutive game, he was unable to catch the inside angle fork of the fourth pitch to Hirooka, which followed with no outs on first base in the 6th inning with no outs for both teams. runner advanced to second base and the first "catch". In the bases loaded with one out and one out, he couldn't catch a 150 km fastball with a low outside angle to Nakagawa and bounced back. In the meantime, third base runner returned home and lost the second "catch". And even in the 8th inning with 1 out and 1st base chasing 4 runs, Fuji's low outside angle slider could not be catch. The third "catch" of the day was recorded.

Three passed balls in one game is the worst record in baseball history, tied with the 12th player to do so, including the single-league era. After the game, he bit his lip and said, "I think my technique wasn't good enough. I'll practice more and get better. I'm sorry to pitcher today. These past two days have been filled with both good and frustrating moments. I'll use today as motivation and do my best again starting tomorrow."

In the home opener on March 31st against Orix Buffaloes Buffaloes (at Belluna Dome), he started as the sixth batter and catcher. In the fourth inning with no outs and a runner on first, trailing by one run, he swung hard at a high inside fastball from opposing starter Takashima, sending the ball in a beautiful parabola into the right-field stands. It was his first two-run homer, the first of the season for the team, and the first by a rookie in all 12 teams, greatly contributing to the team's victory.