Orix Buffaloes Kazuma Sato pitcher was removed from the active roster on the 6th. In his first start of the season on the 2nd, against Nippon-Ham (ES CON FIELD), he gave up four consecutive home runs from the leadoff inning in the first inning of the pro baseball for the first time in history. From the next day, the Seibu Lions game on the 3rd (Hotto Motto Kobe), he was on the bench as a long reliever for two games.

After the seventh-year left-hander was unfortunately removed from the game after only 16 pitches, manager Kishida did not immediately demote him to the minor leagues, instead placing him in bullpen. He will be readjusting at the farm team starting on the 7th, but after the game Seibu Lions on the 5th (Kyocera Dome Osaka), he expressed his gratitude, saying, "Normally, I would have been removed from the roster immediately. I didn't get a chance to pitch, but I was happy that they kept me on the first team, and I was truly relieved."

He is eager to grow as a starting pitcher once again. "Being able to pitch for a long time is my strength. I've hit rock bottom, so now all that's left is to do my best." The 190cm left-hander, who joined the team in the same year as ace Miyagi as the first pick in the 2019 developmental draft and earned a promotion to the main roster in his fifth year, is determined to move forward, fueled by his disappointment.