It was learned on the 15th that Masato Yoshii (61), the former manager of Rakuten Eagles Eagles. The team is currently languishing at the bottom of the league with a deficit of 16 games. Since the announcement on the 10th that manager Hajime Miki (49) would be taking a leave of absence, head coach Tatsuya Shiokawa (43) has been serving as acting manager, but Yoshii is expected to take charge from the first game of the season since the league resumes on the 19th against his former team, the Chiba Lotte Marines (at ZOZO Marine Stadium). The team will be looking to turn things around under the new manager, who has been appointed at an unusual time in the middle of the season.

◆ Rakuten Eagles this season

▽April 19th: In a game against Lotte (Rakuten Eagles Mobile) where a win would have put them in sole possession of first place, they were overtaken in the 8th inning and lose.

▽May 28 Chunichi The team suffered three straight losses in a three-game series (against the Vantelin D), bringing their deficit to 10.

▽June 2nd: In the midst of their second six-game losing streak of the season, Dai Suzuki took over as captain for the game against DeNA (Yokohama). They came from behind to win and broke their losing streak.

On the 4th of the same month, lose to DeNA (in Yokohama) after being overtaken by seven runs.

▽On the 9th, they lost to The Giants (Rakuten Eagles Mobile), reaching a deficit of 15 games for the first time this season. Following discussions after the game, it was decided that manager Miki would take a leave of absence, and this was announced at 1 AM after midnight. Head coach Shiokawa will act as interim manager.

On the 11th, they defeated The Giants pitcher Masahiro Tanaka, giving acting manager Shiokawa his first win in his second game.