◆ Pacific League: Softbank Hawks vs. Orix Buffaloes (23rd, Mizuho PayPay Dome)

Orix Buffaloes pitcher Kyosuke Saito was removed from the active roster on the 23rd. In his fourth professional season, he overcame a right elbow injury and was promoted to the first team on the 20th for the first time in two years. The previous day, on the 22nd, he made his first appearance in the first team in 710 days against Softbank Hawks (at Mizuho PayPay Dome). However, he was hit hard, giving up 8 hit and 7 runs in 1/3 of an inning, including 6 RBI hits, and ERA jumped to 189.00.

The right-hander had a stable record in the farm league, appearing in 11 games (7 starts) with a 4-0 record and a 1.94 ERA. Having played in the first team since his rookie year in 2023, and recording 2 wins in 8 games in 2024, including his first professional win, he is looking to regain his form in the farm league. Additionally, Hiroshi, who runs in 2 innings on the 22nd, and Daiki Tajima, who runs in 3 innings, were also removed from the active roster.

In their place, right-handed pitchers Leo Yamaguchi (a second-year high school graduate), Nobuyoshi Yamada, and Kento Kawase who will be making their first starts of the season, were added to the roster.