On the 7th, Orix Buffaloes announced that catcher Yuma Tongu (29) underwent medial meniscus reconstruction surgery, high tibial osteotomy, and autologous osteochondral grafting at a hospital in Chiba Prefecture, as previously reported by this newspaper. After approximately two months of hospitalization, he will begin rehabilitation. He will be absent for the season and is expected to return in as little as one year.

Tongu, who won the hitter title in 2023, suffered a right knee injury while hitting Home Run in an intrasquad game on February 11 and was sidelined. He recovered enough to return to playing at one point. However, after the farm league game against Nippon-Ham on May 29 (at Sugimoto Shoji BS), his condition worsened again. He underwent examinations and tests at more than five hospitals, searching for the best course of action.