◇ Fukuoka Softbank vs. Saitama Seibu Lions Game 13 (1st · MIZUHO PayPay Dome)

Fukuoka Softbank 's Tomoya Masaki hitter ’s home run led off. He reached his first double-digit Home Run.

In the first inning, the opposing starter was Saitama’s Seibu Lions new acquisition, Winans pitcher, whom he was facing for the first time. Masaki, batting leadoff hitter, stepped up to the plate and, on the third pitch—a well-placed pitch at the right height two seam fastball—sent the ball to left-center field. Although it was a slightly jammed hit, it still made it all the way into the stands.

Masaki joined the team in May and posted an impressive .357 batting average for the month. Although his form dipped slightly in June to a .235 average, he hit 6 Home Run home runs—many of them solo shots—and had already reached his ninth of the season (as of before the game), surpassing his career-high of seven Home Run set in 2024.

◇Masaki’s Comments
“I hit it at two seam fastball. Since I went hitless hit yesterday, I stepped into the batter’s box today with a strong determination to get a hit in my very first at-bat. I think I was able to execute my swing properly. It was great to get off to the best possible start with the go-ahead run at home run.”

Written by Kana Niwa