◆Pacific League: Lotte vs. Rakuten Eagles (8th, ZOZO Marine)

Lotte pitcher Yuki Karakawa (37) attended a retirement press conference at his home stadium, ZOZO, on the 8th.

He joined the team in 2007 as a first-round high school draft pick from his hometown of Narita. The right-hander, who has spent his entire 19-year career with Lotte, participated in the 2006 and 2007 Spring Koshien tournaments during high school. In the 2007 high school draft, he garnered attention as one of the 'High School Big Three' alongside his contemporaries Sho Nakata of Osaka Toin (Nippon-Ham first-round pick) and Yoshinori Sato of Sendai Ikuei (Yakult first-round pick). In 2008, his first year with the team, he responded to Manager Valentine's expectations by recording five wins, including becoming the fourth player in the history of the two-league system to win his first three consecutive starts. He achieved a career-high 12 wins in 2011 and served as a key member of the relief squad starting in 2018, though his appearances have decreased in recent years. In this, his 19th season, he has not pitched in a first-team game since suffering his first loss after giving up 4 runs in 5 innings during a start against the Hanshin Tigers at ZOZO Marine Stadium on May 30. However, Manager Saburo has suggested he will pitch in the game against the Softbank Hawks at ZOZO Marine Stadium on October 3, where his retirement ceremony is scheduled to be held.

Yuki Karakawa: Born July 5, 1989, in Narita City, Chiba. 37 years old. At Narita High School, he appeared in the Spring Koshien in 2006 and 2007. He joined Lotte as a first-round pick in the 2007 high school draft. He served as a member of the starting rotation and contributed significantly, including a career-high 12 wins in 2011. In 350 total games, he has 82 wins, 78 losses, 64 holds, and a 3.71 ERA. This season, he has 0 wins and 1 loss in 1 game with a 7.20 ERA. 181 cm, 90 kg. Right-handed pitcher and hitter. His estimated salary for this season is 44 million yen.