It was revealed on the 19th that Orix Buffaloes Buffaloes pitcher Atsuya Fujikawa (18) underwent Tommy John surgery on his right elbow. He had been sidelined since the farm league game against the Hanshin Tigers Tigers on June 19th (at Sugimoto Shoji BS) due to discomfort in his right elbow. He had been in discussions with the team and had visited several hospitals. He joined the team last year as the first overall pick in the draft from Nobeoka Gakuen High School in Miyazaki. This promising young player, who is expected to become the team's ace in the future, has made a major decision in order to make a full recovery.

Fujikawa made his debut on May 3rd against Lotte (at Sugimoto Shoji BS) and had a perfect record of 10 runs innings in 4 games in the league. He had been carefully working on his physical conditioning and was progressing smoothly. However, the condition of his right elbow did not improve, and he has not been throwing recently. With the situation fluctuating, he was searching for the best course of action.

The team has struggled with injuries to key players, including ace Miyagi, who underwent ligament reconstruction surgery on his left elbow, and Yamashita, who underwent the same procedure on his right elbow. pitcher Although he will be sidelined for an extended period in his first year out of high school, the team is providing him with full support. Mukuoki, another first-round draft pick, underwent Tommy John surgery on his right elbow in late September 2022 while still a college rookie, and has blossomed this season as a setup reliever. This 18-year-old is brimming with potential. The team views this as a necessary detour on his path to growth.

◆Atsuya Fujikawa: Born October 23, 2007, in Iizuka City, Fukuoka Prefecture. Age 18. He started playing baseball seriously in the 4th grade of Honami Higashi Elementary School with the Honami Blue Sky softball team, and played for the Young Kitakyushu Baseball Club in Honami Higashi Junior High School. He was on the bench from the fall of his first year at Nobeoka Gakuen in Miyazaki. He has never played in Koshien tournament. breaking ball include a curveball, slider, fork, and change-up. His favorite word is "persistence". In the farm league, he pitched 10 innings in 4 games ERA of 0.00. 183 cm, 93 kg. Right-handed pitcher and batter. Annual salary of 8 million yen.