◆ Seibu Lions Pacific League: Seibu vs. Softbank Hawks (24th, Belluna Dome)
Seibu Lions 's second-round draft pick, pitcher Hakua Hakua Iwaki, joined the first team on the 24th.
He joined Seibu Lions Lions in 2013 as the second overall pick in the draft from Chuo University. In his rookie season this year, he served as the team's closer from the start of the season, appearing in 26 games with a record of 1 win, 1 loss, 2 hold, 18 saves, and an ERA of 4.15. In his most recent games, he was hit hard at times, and was removed from the active roster on June 24th.
After being demoted, he made four appearances in the minor leagues, pitch a total of four runs inning, showing signs of recovery. He is expected to be used in any situation for the time being, and he expressed his enthusiasm, saying, "I want to stand on mound and compete with confidence."
![[Video] So cute! Nogizaka baseball Club's ceremonial pitch](https://hochi.news/images/2026/03/29/20260329-OHT1I51303-L.jpg)
![[Scoreboard] Seibu Lions vs. Softbank Hawks](https://hochi.news/assets/v2/img/hochi_news_sns.png)
![[Seibu Lions] Hibiki Shinohara is expected to be removed from the active roster for rest. Despite being only in his second year out of high school, he has 23 hold, and manager Nishiguchi praised his performance, saying, "He was good, more than good enough."](https://hochi.news/images/2026/07/24/20260724-OHT1I51309-L.jpg)
![[Seibu Lions] Haruto Yamada, who underwent right elbow surgery in March, returned to the first team and runs one scoreless inning: "I was able to show my strengths, so I'm glad."](https://hochi.news/images/2026/07/23/20260723-OHT1I51614-L.jpg)
![[Seibu Lions] Heavy defeat widens the gap with Softbank Hawks to 4.5 games. Direct confrontation begins on the 24th. Manager Nishiguchi: "We must not let the gap widen. We are only focused on winning."](https://hochi.news/images/2026/07/23/20260723-OHT1I51586-L.jpg)
