Orix Buffaloes pitcher Sho Iwasaki (36) will join the first team for the game against The Giants on the 2nd (Tokyo Dome), it was decided on the 1st. He returned to action on May 9th after suffering a lower body injury and has appeared in 5 games in the farm league. In the game against Nippon-Ham on the 31st (Sugimoto Shoji BS), he showed his comeback by throwing a perfect inning with a top speed of 152 km/h and striking out 2 strike out, which earned him his first call-up of the season.

"I want to earn trust again from scratch. I hope to deliver a good performance in each and every game." Last year, he joined the team in a trade from Chunichi in May and established himself as a key part of the winning pattern. In 37 games, he recorded 16 hold, the second most on the team, and at the age of 35, he threw his fastest pitch ever at 160 km/h. With the season starting in June, just like in 2013 when he became the savior of bullpen, he is expected to work just as hard. "I want to surpass last year's numbers. When I'm told to really go, I want to throw with all my might," he said, showing his unwavering determination.

The team has won two consecutive series since the start of the interleague season, and is now 8 games ahead, just one game behind the Pacific League leader, Seibu Lions. In the bullpen, Teranishi has established himself as the seventh inning reliever, and Mukunoki, who pitches the eighth inning, is performing well with a league-leading 15 hold. If Iwasaki joins the relay to closer Machado, who is on a 14-game save streak, it will help reduce the burden on the entire bullpen. "Everyone is working at full capacity, and fatigue starts to set in at this time of year. I want to help out in as many games as possible." The seasoned hard-throwing pitcher is returning as the team aims for its first interleague championship in five years.