Pacific League: Seibu Lions 4, Rakuten Eagles 1 (30th, Belluna Dome)

Seibu Lions outfielder Takumi Kuriyama (42) played his retirement game against the Rakuten Eagles at Belluna Dome on the 30th, recording his 2,152nd career hit in his final at-bat. In the game billed as "PR1DE the FINAL," all players and coaches wore number 1. With two outs in the eighth inning, he hit a single to center field, drawing cheers and tears from the fans. During the retirement ceremony that followed, he himself wept. "Mr. Leo," who spent his entire 25-year career with the Seibu Lions, is now quietly hanging up his bat.

As if holding back tears that were about to overflow, Seibu Lions' Kuriyama bit his lip firmly on first base. "I was thinking, 'I'm about to cry' (laughs)." In his fourth at-bat with two outs in the eighth inning, he caught the first pitch, a 153 km/h fastball from Tai, and the ball broke through the middle for a hit to center field. The man who remained loyal to the Seibu Lions for 25 years recorded his 2,152nd career hit in his final professional at-bat. "I thought, 'I'm so happy to get a hit like this.'" Returning to the bench amidst thunderous applause, he took a final deep breath and raised his helmet to the fans who had dyed the stadium blue.

It was a hit that fulfilled his promise. At the press conference held at 9 a.m. prior to his retirement game, when asked about the best play of his professional baseball career, he chose "I've only had one hit this season, but I guess it would be that one to center fielder and my first one since turning pro," and declared with a grin, "I think the best will be the hit I get today. (hit count) will definitely advance." He struck out in his first three at-bats. In the 8th inning, when Hasegawa hit a solo home run to left field, he got his last chance and fulfilled his "promise," basking in the feeling that "it was the best hit that everyone helped me get."

It has been 25 years since he joined the team as a fourth-round draft pick in 2001 from Hyogo's Ikuei High School. By taking steady steps forward one by one, he has built the persona of "Mr. Leo," Takumi Kuriyama.

"The Lions needed me, and I love The Lions too. The accumulation of that feeling every year—wanting to wear this uniform and play in front of everyone—is how I've been able to make it this far."

He worked closely every day with Norio Tanabe (60), the current third-team fielder coach who was the second-team batting coach when he first joined the team, steadily accumulating batting practice. Coach Tanabe recalls those days, saying, "He was the complete opposite of (Takeya) Nakamura. Nakamura was a type who was already almost a finished product. By comparison, Kuriyama was a player who still had to start from scratch in terms of skill and everything else." This unpolished raw talent was thoroughly refined, and in 2021, he became a great hitter, becoming the first homegrown player in franchise history to achieve 2,000 hits.

The Lions' blue blood continues to flow through his veins. He exercised the overseas FA rights he had acquired in 2014 during the 2016 off-season. While many players were transferring via FA at the time, he chose the path of declaring his intent to stay. During contract negotiations last November, he announced his retirement at the end of this season—an unusual move to do so a year in advance—yet his sincere attitude toward the game remained unchanged. Takeya Nakamura, his draft classmate who played alongside him for 25 years, testified: "His passion for researching baseball, his preparation methods... I felt he was always thinking and questioning everything." He raced through his career with a drive for self-improvement that even his "buddy," a six-time Home Run king, admired.

During his lap around the stadium, the fans he had fought alongside gave him a "final Chance Theme 4," and his tears would not stop. While his future remains undecided, he left the ground after making a new promise: "I have been and will always be Kuriyama of The Lions." We look forward to the new chapter of Mr. Leo.

(Ayami Onaka)

Takumi Kuriyama: Born September 3, 1983, in Kobe, Hyogo. At Ikuei High School, he played in Koshien in the spring and summer of his second year, and joined the Seibu Lions as a fourth-round draft pick in 2001. Takeya Nakamura was in the same draft class. In 2008, he recorded 167 hits to lead the league in hits, and has won the Best Nine award four times and the Golden Glove award once. He reached 2,000 career hits in 2021. During contract negotiations in December 2025, he announced his retirement at the end of this season. 177 cm, 85 kg. Throws right, bats left. This season's salary is 60 million yen.