◆Nippon Life Interleague Series: DeNA Orix Buffaloes (26th, Yokohama)

Orix Buffaloes Kenya Wakatsuki catcher Kenta Wakatsuki has achieved his 1000th career game appearance, becoming the 544th player in professional baseball to reach this milestone. Drafted in the third round in 2013 from Hanasaki Tokuei High School, he has steadily improved his skills. He contributed to the team's three consecutive league championships and Japan Series titles starting in 2021, and in recent years has formed a formidable pitching duo with Tomoya Mori. In March of this year, he made his debut in the World Baseball Classic as a member of the Samurai Japan national team.

After the fifth inning, he received a commemorative board and bowed to the DeNA dugout. Although he was struggling with a batting average of .182 before the game, he is an absolutely indispensable leader for the team.