◆ Pacific League Orix Buffaloes vs. Lotte (April 4th, Kyocera Dome Osaka)

It was revealed on the 4th that Orix Buffaloes pitcher Kohei Azuma (26) underwent surgery on his right elbow. He has been away from actual competition since his last appearance in a farm league game against the Hanshin Tigers (SGL) on July 18, followed by more than a month of no-throw adjustment. This surgery, following previous ones in August the year before last and November last year, makes his return for the remainder of the season hopeless.

A right-handed pitcher who joined the team as the second pick in the 2017 developmental draft and is now in his ninth professional year. He achieved an undefeated streak of eight consecutive wins starting in 2022, and in 2023, when he went 6-0, he also became the winning pitcher in the Japan Series. In recent years, he has been plagued by concerns regarding his right elbow, leading to a back-and-forth situation. This season, he has been limited to only six appearances in the same league.

In the pitcher rotation, ace Miyagi and Yamashita are out for a long period due to surgery. Azuma himself emphasized, "Since the absences are continuing, I feel apologetic. I have to show that I can pitch properly." He is someone who should originally hold a spot in the starting rotation. This time, he will return in perfect condition.