◆ Pacific League: Softbank Hawks vs. Rakuten Eagles (14th, Mizuho PayPay Stadium)

Softbank Hawks pitcher Taito Murakami has joined the first team.

The right-handed pitcher joined the team in 2024 as the first overall pick in the draft from Kobe Koryo High School. He hasn't made a first-team appearance yet, but he has gained experience in third-team games and farm league games this season. He has appeared in four games in the second team, two of which were as a starter, and has a record of 1 win and 2 losses with ERA of 6.23. He is expected to be used reliever in the first team, and his debut is anticipated.

Yugo Maeda, a year older and the first overall pick in the 2023 draft, is currently on a 10-game winning streak to start the season. Not to be outdone by his senior left-handed pitcher, he wants to give the team even more momentum by playing alongside him as a fellow first-round draft pick.