It was revealed on the 20th that Lotte Marines outfielder Katsuya Kakunaka (39) will retire from professional baseball at the end of this season. He is expected to announce his decision himself later that day.

He is from Ishikawa Prefecture. After playing for Japan Airlines II and Kochi in the Shikoku League, he joined the Chiba Lotte Marines in the 7th round of the 2006 university/corporate league draft. In 2012, he became the first hitter from an independent league to win the batting title with a batting average of .312. In the offseason of 2016, he renewed his contract for 141 million yen, the first time a player from an independent league had reached that milestone, making history in the league.

In his 20th season, he was registered as an active player for the first time on the 3rd, and recorded his first hit with an infield hit to shortstop in the game against Softbank Hawks on the 4th (Mizuho PayPay Dome). In the game Nippon-Ham on the 7th (ZOZO Marine Stadium), he played the full game as the "number 3 hitter and designated hitter," but went hit in 4 At Bat.

As of the end of the 19th, his season totals are 1 hit 11 At Bat-bats over 8 games, for a batting average of .091. His career NPB totals are 1,345 hit, 70 Home Run, 564 RBI, and a batting average of .280 over 1,512 games.

◆Katsuya Kakunaka: Born May 25, 1987, in Ishikawa Prefecture. Age 39. After playing for Nihon Koku II and Kochi in the Shikoku League, he joined the Chiba Lotte Marines in the 7th round of the 2006 university/corporate league draft. He won Pacific League batting hitter in 2012 and 2016, and the most hit title in 2016. 180 cm, 85 kg. Right-handed pitcher, left-handed batter. Estimated annual salary this season: 60 million yen.