Orix Buffaloes pitcher Daiki Tajima (29) put his back on the line on the 22nd. The left-hander had a rough outing on the 6th against Hiroshima (Mazda Stadium), giving up 5 runs in 4 innings, and has been adjusting in the farm team since the 7th. Ahead of the game against Softbank Hawks on the 24th (Mizuho PayPay Dome), where he is scheduled to start in place of Soya, who is prioritizing conditioning, he revealed his extraordinary determination.

"I feel like I'm going to give it my all. From here on out, I have the energy to play in the first team until the very end." Although he didn't reveal the details, he said that in the farm league, he focused on "returning to basics" and re-examining his pitch. In the farm league game against Softbank Hawks on the 16th (Tama Stadium Chikugo), he pitched 7 2/3 innings, throwing 112 pitches. Although he gave up 6 runs, he felt he had made solid progress in getting 23 outs, saying, "I got results regarding my own challenges."

On this day, he participated in pitcher practice at Maishima in Osaka. He also looked at the team's situation, as ace pitchers Miyagi and Yamashita are absent this season due to elbow surgery. "Right now, the starting pitchers are struggling, but reliever pitchers are working really hard. I have a strong feeling that I'm going to complete game no matter what! Precisely because it's tough, I want to contribute in any way I can." Drafted first overall in 2017, he has baffled many hitter with his signature "deadly crossfire" pitch. He's not going to let it end like this. (Shunta Nanbu)