◆Pacific Pacific League: Seibu vs Softbank (6th at Belluna Dome)

Softbank Hawks 's closer, pitcher Kazuki Sugiyama, was registered as a player and participated in pre-game practice. When he entered ground, he took off his cap and bowed to the fielder.

Sugiyama also spoke to the press, showing a grim determination, saying, "I can't take this situation positively. I have no choice but to do it. If it doesn't work out, I'll quit."

After pitching in a game against Nippon-Ham on April 11 (at Escon Stadium), Sugiyama became frustrated with his own pitch and punched the dugout, fracturing his left hand. The following day, he was removed from the roster. He returned to action in a minor league game on the 2nd, and after a one-day break, closer one runs inning in a minor league game Orix Buffaloes on the 4th (at Tamasta Chikugo Stadium), which earned him a promotion to the first team.