◆ Pacific League: Softbank Hawks vs. Orix Buffaloes (27th, Mizuho PayPay Dome)

Orix Buffaloes infielder Taishi Hirooka joined the first team on the 27th for the first time in five months. In this, his 11th professional season, he secured a spot in the opening starting line-up batting ninth and playing right field, recording a .191 batting average and 3 RBI over 13 games. He was removed from the game on April 16th against the Seibu Lions (Kyocera Dome Osaka) after complaining of lower back tension and was subsequently removed from the active roster on the 18th.

He underwent surgery for a lumbar disc herniation in May and focused on rehabilitation thereafter. After returning to action in a farm league game against the Hanshin Tigers on September 12 (Tondabayashi), he recorded a .226 batting average and 6 RBI over 10 games in the same league.

Last season, he played both the infield and outfield at a high level and reached the required number of plate appearances for the first time in his ten-year career. A versatile player who is also highly popular among female fans—having been voted number one for two consecutive years in the club's 'Ori-men' poll—he has returned to the first team with three games remaining.

On this day, 2023 first-round draft pick infielder Seiya Yokoyama also joined the team. In this season, his third as a professional, he appeared in 92 games in the farm league, recording a .219 batting average, 7 Home Runs, and 28 RBI. In the game against the Hanshin Tigers (SGL) on the 23rd, he recorded a bases loaded home run. In the first-team game against the Hanshin Tigers held on June 14 (Kyocera Dome Osaka), he hit a right-field single off Dolis in the 10th extra inning to spark the walk-off win, and all eyes are on whether he can leave his mark in the final stages of the season.