Lotte announced on April 1 that Atsuki Taneichi pitcher underwent suture surgery for a ruptured left Achilles tendon at a Tokyo hospital on April 30.

On April 25, Taneichi started the game against Softbank Hawks and, with the score tied 0-0 in the first inning with two outs and a runner on third strike, threw a 144 km/ fork to Yuki Yanagita on the fifth pitch of the at-bat, which was a foul ball down first base line. After finishing his at-bat, he injured his left leg and was carried off the field on a stretcher. He was examined at a hospital in Kumamoto City that same day and diagnosed with a ruptured left Achilles tendon.

After the All-Star break last season, Taneichi pitched 74 1/3 innings in 10 games, recording 6 wins and 2 losses, 94 strike out, and an astonishing 1.45 ERA. In September and October, he led the league with 4 wins and 48 strike out, winning his first ever "Daiju Life Monthly MVP Award" in Pacific League pitcher category. He was selected to represent Japan in the World Baseball Classic (WBC) held in March of this year, where he made three relief appearances, using his powerful fastball and sharp-breaking fork to overpower the world's hitter.

This injury is a major blow for both the player and the team, especially since he was expected to play a key role throughout the season. We eagerly await his speedy recovery.