On the 3rd, Nippon-Ham pitcher Hiromi Ito (29) expressed his extraordinary determination for the game against the Rakuten Eagles (Rakuten Mobile Park) scheduled for the 5th, where he is set to start. The right-hander, who experienced being removed from the roster for reassessment for the first time in his six-year professional career on August 26th, voiced his passionate feelings as an ace, saying, 'Character-wise, I'm the type who gets fired up when something like this happens, so I want to play while channeling my emotions into various aspects. I probably practiced more than I have in all six years. I've done everything I could so that people won't say it was a good thing I had a 10-day break.'

While removed from the roster, he reviewed his form through net throwing and went through a process of trial and error. On this day, he used the mound at Es Con Field and delivered an intense session of about 30 pitches while shouting. He expressed his confidence, saying, 'I've spent this time with the desire to create something different once again. Personally, I feel like I've changed everything. The feeling of throwing is completely different from a week ago.' Specifically, he set his glove position higher when entering the set position and searched for a way to transfer more power to the ball. Describing his new form, he said, 'I want to use my body in a well-coordinated way, ensuring my right arm doesn't overrun. I've changed the starting method, the way I output power, and the internal mechanics so that the arm passes through where it should, allowing me to transfer power to the ball without any loss.'

This season, he started 22 games, pitched 143 2/3 innings—the second most in the league—and recorded 8 wins and 9 losses with a 3.19 ERA. 'Since I receive a decent salary, the idea of taking a break was not an option for me. I felt more apologetic than anything, and while my emotions were complex, I hope to express that in the next game.' His estimated salary for this season is 340 million yen. The absolute ace of Shinjo's Fighters aims for his first comeback victory in two and a half months, since the game against the Softbank Hawks on June 19 at Es Con Field, following a period of struggle.