◆Nippon Life Interleague Series 2026 Orix Buffaloes 3X-2 Hanshin Tigers (10 extra inning) (14th, Kyocera Dome Osaka)

Orix Buffaloes pitcher Kosei Yoshida (25) focused on the task at hand. "Since it was a tie, I wanted to create a chance for a walk-off." In the 10th inning extra inning, pitch a perfect game, mainly using his fastball which reached a maximum speed of 146 km/h. He set up a dramatic hit by his classmate Yamanaka, the first professional hit by the team, and secured his first win of the season. Having overcome Tommy John surgery on his right elbow in March 2013, this was his first win in 649 days. "It took quite a while..." he said with a relieved smile.

After a year of rehabilitation, he made his return to the mound on April 25th against his former team, the Nippon-Ham (at Kyocera Dome). After the game, he held a "2000 Reunion" with the opposing team's slugger, Manami. They had fought together for five years until he transferred teams in 2024, and after his surgery, Manami would encourage him every time they met, saying, "Do your best with your rehabilitation!" His heart was warmed by his comrade's words, "Congratulations on your return!", and it strengthened his resolve to perform well.

As he works hard as a relief pitcher, he pays meticulous attention to caring for his right elbow. "It's different from before the surgery," he says, explaining that he adopted ultrasound therapy after his first major injury. He has made it a rule to apply the device to the affected area at least twice a day, before practice and after pitching. "I'm on pace to play 50 games. I have to do everything I can to help myself," he says, translating his high level of awareness into performance every day.

The team finished the interleague series with two consecutive wins, rising back to third place in just one day. Manager Kishida congratulated right-handed pitcher Kosei on his comeback, saying, "I hope this will give him momentum." Kosei vowed to contribute even more, saying, "We've lost two games, so we need at least one more win to make up for it." Armed with the tenacity he showed in overcoming adversity, he aims to make this his best year ever. (Shunta Nanbu)