◆ Pacific League: Orix Buffaloes vs. Softbank Hawks (July 7th, Kyocera Dome Osaka)

Softbank Hawks ・ Yugo Maeda pitcher will start in the game against the Orix Buffaloes on the 8th (at Kyocera Dome) as the team aims for its seventh straight win to start the season.If he achieves seven consecutive wins within his first three years out of high school, it would be the first time in 11 years—since Shohei Ohtani (Nippon-Ham, in his third year out of high school) in 2015. For the franchise, it would be the first time in 61 years—since left-hander Toshihiko Hayashi, in his third year out of high school, recorded 12 consecutive wins in 1965 during the team’s Nankai era.

This will be his first appearance against Orix Buffaloes since his professional debut and first start on October 1, 2012 (at Mizuho PayPay Dome), when he was knocked out after giving up 6 runs in 3 innings. "It's been a while since then, so I think I can finally get my revenge. I want to concentrate on every single pitch," he said after practice, expressing his enthusiasm.

He hails from Shiga Prefecture and was selected for Orix Buffaloes Junior team in the sixth grade of elementary school. Kyocera Dome is a memorable stadium where he practiced back then. "It brings back many memories," he said.