◆Nippon Life Interleague Series 2026: Hiroshima vs. Nippon-Ham (Cancelled due to rain) (June 2nd, Mazda Stadium)

Nippon-Ham game was canceled due to rain, the first time this season has been held, as Typhoon No. 6 is approaching. Ito, who was scheduled to start that day, has been moved to the same game on the 3rd, and on the 4th, second-year two-way player Leo Shibata (20) will make his first start of the season. Kato Takashi, who was scheduled to start on the 3rd, will be on standby reliever pitcher.

After finishing the team's indoor practice for about an hour, manager Shinjo said, "Tomorrow (the 3rd) it's Ito. The day after tomorrow (the 4th) it's Shibata. Even if it rains tomorrow, Shibata will still pitch (on the 4th) and I want him to hit two home runs. I want him to go six innings, or if he throws fewer pitches, I'd like him to go seven innings. I want him to play like something out of a manga." He thus confirmed that Shibata, the 2024 first-round draft pick and a two-way player who can both pitch and hit, will make his first start of the season in the third game of the series.

Shibata has been dominant in the minor leagues this season, with 2 wins in 7 games (5 starts), ERA of 0.73, and 30 strike out in 24 2/3 innings. He has also played in 39 games as hitter, hitting .170 with 2 Home Run. The manager has been checking his performance on video after every game, and said, "It wasn't originally planned, but he's been closer perfectly in the minor leagues. So I asked the front office, 'He can also bat in the interleague games, so could he pitch just for this one game?' and they said okay, so he can bat as well. I'm looking forward to it." He envisioned Shibata excelling as both a pitcher and a batter in the interleague games.

Regarding batting order, he said, "Maybe seventh. The opposing team's pitcher is Mori (a left-hander). In that case, maybe eighth. It'll be somewhere around there," he said, also imagining how to use left-handed hitter Shibata. "His home runs to center home run (in the minor leagues) were amazing. You have to hit it at the right time, with a good swing, and at the right point for it to go in there. If you try to just make contact, you'll end up hitting the ball off yourself or jamming the ball, so I hope he swings with all his might." This talented player, who posted a 2.92 ERA in four games in the first team last season as a high school graduate, is aiming for his first professional win and first Home Run. The 20-year-old, who is following in the footsteps of the team's legend Ohtani, will finally unveil his two-way abilities.