The "Nippon Life Interleague Series 2026" will begin on the 26th. Each team will play 18 games in total, three games each against six teams from leagues they don't normally play against. Seibu Lions 's key player in the interleague series is outfielder Masayuki Kuwahara (32), who became a free agent from DeNA last offseason. He has been sidelined due to a left calf muscle tear, but is scheduled to return for the interleague series. Having spent 14 years in the Central League and leading the team as their undisputed leadoff hitter from the start of the season, the presence of this player will likely be key to their success in the interleague series, where they finished with a 10-8 record last year.

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Central League Kuwabara is a valuable asset in a team with few experienced players Seibu Lions. Last season with DeNA, Kuwabara struggled, batting just .151 with 53 At Bat 8 hit runs, but he said, "The quality of pitches is different in the Central and Pacific League. I think the way they throw is different, too. I think the two teams have different pitching styles. The Se majors have straighter, cleaner pitches, while the Pacific League has a heavier pitching style. The form of the two teams is also different. I think it's necessary to separate the two teams because they will only play each other once," he said.

In his 15th year, he started the season with his first Pacific League and opened the season as "No. 1, Left Wing" starting line-up. He played in 22 games and led the team with a .318 batting average until he left the game on April 21, Softbank Hawks with a separated left calf (Belluna D).

He returned to action in the farm team game against The Giants on May 15th (at Carminique), and even stolen base base in the same game the following day, the 16th. He showed a smooth recovery and could have rejoined the team earlier, but he chose to take a cautious approach to his return, joining the team only when he was fully prepared. Seibu Lions has never won the interleague series before. Can Kuwahara bring a fresh perspective and help them reach their first championship?

◆Masayuki Kuwahara: Born July 21, 1993, in Osaka Prefecture. Age 32. Joined Yokohama in 2011 as the 4th pick in the draft from Fukuchiyama Seimei High School. In 2017, he played in 143 games and won the Golden Glove Award as the starting center fielder. He was named MVP in the 2024 Japan Series. In the offseason of 2025, he exercised his domestic free agency rights and transferred to Seibu Lions. 174 cm, 80 kg. Right-handed pitcher, right-handed batter. number 7.

◆ Seibu Lions Interleague Series Schedule

▽ May 26-28 Yakult (Jingu Stadium)

▽29th-31st DeNA (Belluna Dome)

▽June 2-4 Hanshin Tigers (Koshien)

▽ Chunichi from the 5th to the 7th (Vantelin Dome)

▽9th-11th Hiroshima (Belluna Dome)

▽12th-14th The Giants (Belluna Dome)