◆ Seibu Lions Pacific League: Seibu vs. Rakuten Eagles (5th, Belluna Dome)

Rakuten Eagles, riding a three-game winning streak, sent their first-round draft pick rookie right-handed pitcher, Sota Fujiwara (Hanazono University), to his second start, hoping for his first professional win. He pitched five innings against Seibu Lions, giving up only four hit and one runs, but his first professional win was postponed.

Armed with fastballs in the 150 km/h range and sharp, decisive breaking ball, he went up against the Lions. In the third inning, with a one-run lead, he gave up a game-tying solo home run to Kuwahara. However, despite giving up four Hit by Pitch and runner, he pitch tenaciously, closer to just that one run and controlling the game well.

pitcher coach Onodera also praised pitch, saying, "He's pitching tenaciously even when he allows runner on base. He's also competing well hitter. He's making use of the lessons learned from his last outing."

94 pitches filled with both successes and areas for improvement. If he continues pitching like this, wins will naturally follow.

◆ Sota Fujiwara, born November 20, 2003, in Iga City, Mie Prefecture. Age 22. He started playing baseball second baseman in the first grade of Tamataki Elementary School with the youth baseball team "Ayama Blue Fires". At Ayama Junior High School, he belonged to Koga Little Senior and short stop. At Minakuchi High School (Shiga Prefecture), he was on the bench from the fall of his first year. At Hanazono University, he was on the bench from the spring of his first year and participated in the All Japan University baseball Championship in the spring of his second year. He joined Rakuten Eagles as the first overall pick in the 2025 draft. He is the first professional baseball player from Hanazono University. 178 cm, 73 kg. Right-handed pitcher, right-handed batter.