◆Farm League: Seibu Lions vs. Hayate (August 1st, Carminique)

Seibu Lions Lions pitcher Hibiki Shinohara, who was removed from the active roster before the All-Star break to rest, made his return to action on the 1st in a farm team game against Hayate (at Carminique).

He took the mound as the fifth pitcher in the ninth inning with a 7-run lead. He retired the leadoff batter on a flyout to left field with a 151-kilometer fastball, then induced a swinging strikeout struck out from hitter with a 154-kilometer fastball, and finally closed out the game with a flyout to center field runs on a 117-kilometer curveball, leaving the bases empty. His fastest fastball was 154 kilometers.

After his appearance on the mound, he emphasized that he was refreshed after taking a break, saying, "I'm perfectly fine. I got plenty of rest. When I'm with the first team, I get somewhat mentally prepared when I go into bullpen. Even if they say there's no pressure, there's still the tension and atmosphere of the game."

He joined Seibu Lions in 2024 as the 5th pick in the draft from Fukui Institute of Technology Fukui High School, and in his second professional season this year, he has switched to reliever role and has become a key part of the team's win formula. He has appeared in 31 games so far, with a record of 1 win, 2 losses, 23 hold, and 1 save, making a significant contribution to the team's position at the top of the standings.

When he was removed from the active roster on July 24, manager Nishiguchi explained that he gave him an early rest in preparation for the second half of the season, saying, "That's good, that's enough. He's in his second year out of high school, but he's done really well so far, like it's his first year. I told him to take a rest." He also hinted that he would be aiming to return for the series against Lotte starting on the 4th, saying, "I think he'll be back at ZOZO Marine Stadium."