Seibu Lions ・ Kaima Taira pitcher (26) expressed his enthusiasm on the 6th for his fourth homecoming start on the 7th against the Rakuten Eagles (Naha), which will mark “the first game held in Okinawa for Okinawa native pitcher win.”

He aims to be the first to achieve this feat. On this day, he participated in pitcher practice at Cellular Naha. Since the first regular season games have been played there, but there has yet to be winning pitcher from the local area. He himself has pitched a total of three times, including against Orix Buffaloes on July 2, 2013, with a record of 0 wins, 2 losses, and 1 hold. "I don't worry too much about the results because it's all down to luck," he said with a laugh, but added, "I would be happy if that happened," showing his quiet determination.

Rakuten Eagles has another player with the same surname, Ryuya Taira. In Ishigaki Island, Okinawa, where the right-hander is from, the Taira surname is not that rare, with "four or five people in my class," but there are currently only three in professional baseball. He lost to DeNA's Taira in a pitching duel during the open season in March, and said, "I think it's rare, so I want to enjoy pitching." He aims to defeat Rakuten Eagles 's Taira in another "Taira showdown" and achieve a remarkable feat. (Ayami Onaka)