◆ Seibu Lions Pacific League: Seibu vs. Softbank Hawks (7th, Belluna Dome)

Seibu Lions ・ Takeya Nakamura infielder (42) was added to the active roster for the first time this season on the 7th. fielder, the oldest player in the league who turns 43 on the 15th, is expected to provide a spark during the three-game series against the Softbank Hawks, whom the team trails by 7.5 games as of today.

A reliable veteran will pave the way for a come-from-behind victory. Takeshi Nakamura has played in 39 farm team games this season, with 26 At Bat 98 hit for a batting average of .265, 5 Home Run, and 23 RBI. He has not yet played in the first team this season, but with 42 regular season games remaining and a direct confrontation with league leaders Softbank Hawks starting today, manager Nishiguchi decided to promote him. The man with 481 career home runs, who has hit Home Run for 22 consecutive years since 2004, a club record, has joined the team. During batting practice before the game, despite the scorching heat of over 33 degrees Celsius, he was sweating profusely as he hit home runs over the fence and energetically took ground balls at third base.

He joined Seibu Lions in the second round of the 2001 draft from Osaka Toin High School. He made his first-team debut in his second year, 2003, and hit two Home Run in 2004, including his first Home Run. In 2008, he won his first Home Run title with 46 home runs, and in 2009, he won Home Run for the second consecutive year with a career-high 48 home runs. He has been a prolific homer hitter, winning Home Run title six times in the eight years from 2008 to 2015. However, the last time he played in more than 100 games was in 2021. Since 2022, he has only played in 88, 88, 58, and 44 games respectively, but he still hit three Home Run last season. His last appearance in the first team was on July 1st last year against Orix Buffaloes Buffaloes (in Naha). If he plays on this day, it will be his first appearance in 402 days.

Takumi Kuriyama outfielder (42), who is in the same age group and has announced his retirement from active play at the end of this season, has appeared in 10 games so far, posting a record of 9 At Bat 1 hit. He was removed from the active roster in May and is currently working on his form in the minor leagues. The 39-year-old veteran Ginjiro Sumitani catcher has not appeared in any first-team games so far and continues to work on his form in the minor leagues.