◆ Pacific League Orix Buffaloes Nippon-Ham (14th, Kyocera Dome Osaka)

Orix Buffaloes ・ Ren Mukunoki pitcher has been removed from the active roster. The team announced that this was due to “poor upper-body condition.”

He joined the team in 2021 as the first overall pick in the draft, coming from Tohoku Fukushi University. In his fifth professional season this year, he was mainly entrusted with the 8th inning in winning games, and had recorded a league-leading 28 hold in 41 games so far. The right-handed pitcher had overcome Tommy John surgery (ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction surgery) in his right elbow in September 2022, and had been playing a pivotal role as a bridge to closer Machado. This news sent shockwaves through the team, which is aiming to advance to the Climax Series from fourth place.