Orix Buffaloes ・ On the 17th, it became increasingly likely that Ryuhei Sotani pitcher (25) would return to competitive action for the first time in a month in the Farm League game against Hanshin Tigers (SGL) scheduled for the 19th.The left-hander had not pitched since June 10, when he earned his fourth win (3 losses) with 9 innings pitched and 4 runs against the Yakult (Kyocera Dome Osaka). Now that he is in top form, he is set to take a major step forward.

On the 15th, pitch his second bullpen session at Maishima in Osaka. He threw 15 pitches in two sets, focusing on his arm motion and checking his feel for the ball, with a top speed of 146 km/h, which was excellent. With aces Miyagi and Yamashita absent, the starting rotation is short on pitchers. If all goes well, he is expected to return to the first team after the All-Star break, and he said with determination, "I want to do my best with gratitude to the trainers who have been watching over me all the time."