The 2025 Tohoku Rakuten Eagles, under the leadership of manager Hajime Miki, finished with a record of 67 wins, 74 losses, and 2 ties, a winning percentage of .475, and fourth place in Pacific League. While finishing fourth for the fourth consecutive year was disappointing, it could also be said that the year was filled with many positive developments, with many young players emerging as promising prospects for next season. This time, we look back on the 2025 season for the Tohoku Rakuten Eagles pitcher.

The team's ERA, which had been the worst in the league for three consecutive years, improved slightly to 3.37, tied for fourth in the league.

Team ERA was the worst team in the league for three consecutive years until last season, but this season they are tied for fourth in the league with a 3.37. runs, which was also the worst team in the league last season, is also third in the league, so the problems they faced last season are slowly improving.

However, there were no pitcher players who reached the innings pitched mark this season. Among them, Takahisa Hayakawa and pitcher, which had double-digit win numbers last season, finished 2-8, ERA 4.35, Masaru Fujii and pitcher 6-7, and ERA 3.20, respectively, leaving the starters with some issues. On the other hand, however, Masaya Nishigaki pitcher he was second in the league with 63 starts, while Naoto Nishiguchi pitcher he overcame Tommy John surgery and ERA 1.07 in 52 games. The reliever squad was also notable for its success, as Shoma Fujihira pitcher, who switched to reliever last season, continued to show consistent pitch this year.

The oldest player, Takayuki Kishi, has started 400 games.

The team's oldest Takayuki Kishi pitcher played 109 inning, the team's second-place finish, although he did not reach the required innings pitched. This year, he supported the team with unabated and tenacious pitching. In the game that made his first appearance of the season against Saitama Seibu Lions on April 3rd, he went win pitcher with 1 runs in the 7th inning, marking his 19th consecutive year of win since his rookie year. Furthermore, in the Fukuoka Softbank game on August 26, he threw 6 inning to make a match with 1 runs (earned runs 0), reaching his 170th career win. In the same game, he became the 22nd NPB player to reach 400 appearances.

In addition, the words "It's not like this runs The Eagles" left in a hero interview after stopping the team's losing streak with a good pitch of 7 innings in the Chunichi game on June 12 also became a hot topic. Later, when a towel designed with this word was released, it was also used in the team's end-game poster. He led the team as the oldest in areas other than play. "30" to 200 wins in total. Expectations are high for his success next season.

Second-year player Tatsuki Koja also fought hard, tying for the team lead with seven wins.

The team's top win this season was second-year pitcher Tatsuki Koja. pitcher, who joined the team as the first pick in the draft last season, missed spring training in February this year due to back stiffness. Despite this, he returned to action in the exhibition games and took mound for his first start of the season in the second game of the opening series against Orix Buffaloes on March 29th. While he didn't get a win in that game, he pitched well, allowing just two hit and no runs in five innings. Then, on April 6th against Chiba Lotte Marines, he pitched 103 pitches in nine innings, allowing just three hit and no runs, earning his first complete game game shutout game win.

Also, in the game against Fukuoka Softbank on September 26th, he allowed one runs in the middle of the sixth inning, reaching 100 innings pitched in his career. Compared to last season, when he had 5 wins and 8 losses, this season he has shown great growth, going 7 wins and 7 losses in 19 games. Next season, he would like to increase the number of games in which he pitches until the seventh inning in order to reduce the burden on reliever pitchers.

Masaya Nishigaki pitched in 63 games, the most on the team.

Masaya Nishigaki, a fourth-year pitcher, pitched in 63 games, reliever most on the team. pitcher hadn't been able to establish himself in the first team for the three seasons from his rookie year through last season, but this season he started on the first team. On May 25th, in a game against Hokkaido Nippon-Ham, he pitched in the top of the 11th extra inning with the game tied. He walked two Walk with two outs, closer the team to no hit and no runs, earning his first professional hold.

He continued pitch steadily from then on, and by the end of the season, he was in a winning pattern. He pitched in 63 games, with 7 wins and 1 loss, 14 hold, 21 hold points, and ERA of 1.96, making for a remarkable year. His 7 wins tied him with pitcher for the most on the team. It could be said that pitcher 's passionate pitching throughout the season changed the flow of games and led the team to win.

Naoto Nishiguchi 's comeback from Tommy John surgery

In his ninth year, Naoto Nishiguchi pitcher has recovered from right elbow surgery. pitcher Nishiguchi spent last season rehabbing as a developmental player after undergoing Tommy John surgery in September 2023. He then returned to the team in February of this season and showed steady adjustment and was named to the first-team lineup for the season opener.

On May 13 against Chiba Lotte Marines, with the score tied in the top of the 9th inning, the team went up to mound for the 5th position, and closed out the game with 3 strikeouts, including 2 struck out. Then, immediately after, in the bottom of the 9th inning, the team Yoshiaki Watanabe walk-off win with a sacrifice fly of players. Nishiguchi pitcher got his first win in 1003 days, and in his hero interview, he exclaimed with joy, "Ureppi! and exploded with joy.

Since then, he has continued to support bullpen with his stable pitch, and on July 6, he set a team record of 26 consecutive games runs without a win since the start of the season. On July 8, he also runs for the first time this season, resulting in an overwhelming 3-1 record, 31 hold and 1.07 ERA in 52 games, showing a remarkable comeback.

In his second year as reliever pitcher, Shoma Fujihira set a new team record with 29 consecutive runs games.

Tohei pitcher, who switched to reliever last season, continued to play a full rotation this season, pitching in 62 games, his most ever. On October 5, the final game of the season, he pitched the second best game of the season, and he pitched 1 inning to no hit 1 strike out to no runs to no closer, setting a new team record of 29 consecutive games without a loss runs. As a result, he pitched 62 games and finished his 9th season with a 2-2 record, 21 hold and ERA 2.11, supporting bullpen him throughout the season.

Ren Kajiya is dynamic in his new home, Uchi Seiryu is also capable of playing both as a starter and reliever.

New pitcher Ren Kajiya also performed well. He started the season in the minor leagues but was promoted in early April. On May 27th, in a game against Saitama Seibu Lions, he struck out three batters in the bottom of the seventh inning with the score tied, and then his team took the lead immediately after, earning his first win since the transfer. Although his performance dipped somewhat during the summer, he was able to make adjustments based on his 12-year career and completed his first year with no injuries, recording two wins and one loss, 18 hold, and ERA 3.50 in 52 games.

In his fifth year, Uchi Seiryu pitcher was used in both the starting lineup and the reliever. Last season, Uchi-pitcher switched to the starting lineup in earnest, but he switched back to reliever this season due to the departure of the reliever team. There were also long reliefs in games where the starter was inning early, but he responded brilliantly. It is not yet clear how to use it next season, but no matter what kind of appointment he makes, he will show good pitching that makes use of this season's experience.

Two rookie pitcher also make impressive debuts in the first team

Pitchers Haruto Haruto Nakagomi, pitcher third, and Masahiro Ehara, pitcher was drafted fifth, have made their first-team debuts.

pitcher took to mound on May 4th against Orix Buffaloes with an 11-point lead in the top of the ninth inning. Despite being in a pinch with two outs and a string of runs, closer the score at zero, completing his memorable professional debut as a battery Takaya Tanaka his senior at university.

pitcher made his debut in the opening game against Orix Buffaloes on March 28th, pitching a magnificent runs mound. In the pitch against Chiba Lotte Marines on September 15th, with the score tied, he faced a 1-out, 2-base extra inning situation in the top of the 12th inning, but he eventually got the runner out on double play, sending the game to the bottom of the 12th. This was when Yuya Ogo hit the team's 2,000th home run, giving pitcher his first professional win.

Takahisa Hayakawa and Masaru Fujii, who had double-digit win last season, have had a tough year. Will they be able to bounce back next season?

As mentioned at the beginning, pitcher Hayakawa and pitcher, who each achieved their first double-digit win last season, have had a difficult year.

pitcher earned his first win of the season on April 4th against Chiba Lotte Marines, runs one run in seven innings, but he was unable to demonstrate his true potential and went about two and a half months without a win. He was subsequently removed from the first-team roster after his last appearance on July 4th. He continued training with the second-team squad thereafter. He was promoted back to the second-team on September 3rd and started against the Saitama Seibu Lions that same day, but gave up six runs in the third inning, failing to fulfill his role as a starter. He finished his fifth season with the fewest appearances and wins of his career. He underwent posterior labrum cleaning surgery in his left shoulder at the end of September, and it was announced that he would need four to five months to return to action.

pitcher made his first start of the season on April 8th against Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, but gave up two runs in five innings, resulting in a tie. Since then, he has struggled to show consistent pitch, and the start of the season was a struggle, with no wins until mid-May.

Although win his first game of the season against Fukuoka Softbank on May 16th, his win streak was sluggish, and in September he started in four games, three of them didn't last four innings. On the other hand, he pitched in five games against Fukuoka Softbank Hawks, recording three wins and one loss with ERA of 1.52, demonstrating his role as a Hawks killer.

The return of both pitcher will be essential for the team to rise to the top next season.

Takahiro Norimoto will exercise his right to become an overseas free agent, but the team will improve pitcher by acquiring multiple pitcher with immediate potential in the draft.

pitcher Takahiro Norimoto, who has been with The Eagles for 13 years and continued to play for the team, has announced that he will exercise his right to become a free agent overseas. pitcher Howard and pitcher have also left the team after just one year.

However, in this year's draft, the team acquired several pitchers with immediate potential, including Hanazono University's pitcher Satoshi Fujiwara in the first pitcher, Waseda University's Ito Itsuki in the second pick, and Oji's Kutani pitcher, winner of the Hashido Award (Most Valuable pitcher Award) at the 96th Intercity baseball Tournament, in the sixth pick. pitcher Kenta Maeda has also been confirmed for the team. Next season, Tohoku Rakuten Eagles is expected to further improve pitcher, and we're likely to see a fierce battle for the rotation starting with the exhibition games.