The NPB Junior Tournament KONAMI CUP 2025, a tournament to determine the No. 1 junior team for fifth and sixth graders, will be held at Meiji Jingu Stadium and Yokohama Stadium from Friday, December 26th. This year marks the 21st time the tournament has been held, and a total of 16 junior teams will compete for the title of Japan's best over four days from December 26th.

Pacific League Insight introduces the junior teams of the six Pacific League teams participating in the tournament. We also interviewed the managers of each team about their team's strengths and players to watch.

Orix Buffaloes The Buffaloes Junior is a team of 16 elite players, including two female players, selected from a tournament hosted by the team.

Orix Buffaloes The Buffaloes Junior selects players to participate in the NPB Junior Tournament through a selection process for sixth graders from each team that participated in the team-sponsored "Senoppi Presents 22nd Orix Buffaloes The Buffaloes Cup 2025 Boys and Girls baseball Tournament." For the 2025 season, 16 players, including two female players, were selected through a digital challenge (screening based on video submissions) and a practical test.

The 16 players selected for 2025 are as follows:

(number / Name / How to read / Team / Hometown / Position / Appeal Points)

#0 Daichi Umino Nintoku Youngers / Osaka / Pitching, Inside, Outside
"A player who can bring momentum to the team with outfield defense and base running by making use of his natural speed."
#1 Soichiro Katsuki Naniwa Nakamars / Osaka / Pitching / Outside
"Pitching with a good tempo and control, and I can pitch without focusing on the opponent's hitter at any pitcher."
#2 Yusho Sakamoto Yamada Nishi Little Wolf / Osaka / Catcher
"The speed after catching is No. 1 on the team. With a calm lead, pitcher The key to the fan that pulls the camp."
#3 Shori Haneda Tsukuda White Stars / Hyogo / Catch / Inside
"Koichi Haneda, who played an active role in Kintetsu The Buffaloes, the grandson of the former junior team coach! Expecting the strength of the game inherited from his grandfather number 3"
#4 Kamoi Ria Shimamoto Yankees / Osaka / Catcher / Inside
"Although she is a female player, she is a bright and energetic player, and although she is small, she can do catcher infield."
#5 Shinji Kuramatsu Mihara The Lions / Osaka / Pitching
"Next to Captain Ogawa, the team's vitality infield!
#6 Reisei Sakoguchi Kishiwada Eaglets / Osaka / Uchi
"Even though I'm an elementary school student, I can do defense that experts like infielder Pay attention to the handsome looks!"
#7 Taishi Ogura Koreyo Boys baseball / Hyogo / Pitching
"Guts is Team No. 1! A central figure that can be relied on in offense and defense."
#8 Ueda Touma Nadanai Raiders / Hyogo / Catch / Outside
"The ball that comes out of the exciting swing is far from elementary school students, and it is the center of the batting lineup."
#9 Atsuya Harada Victors / Hyogo / Pitching
"He boasts the physique of Team 1 and the distance of the ball that comes to the pressure point is one of the best in infielder the team.
#10 Sakura Ogawa Ikeda Wings / Osaka / Catch / Inside
"The captain of the team and the spirit of Team 1!
#11 Kei Nishioka Futami Friends Junior / Hyogo / Pitching, Inside, Outside
" mound A player who has good courage, pitcher, but is also fast and can hit long hits. #6 A handsome man who is not inferior to Yuguchi!"
#16 Kisaki Nishimura Naruo Higashi Victors / Hyogo / Pitching, Inside, Outside
"Although she is a female player, she has a strong desire to lose, pitcher she is not afraid to mix with boys mound Pay attention to the handling!"
#17 Jun Kishimoto Akashi Boys Jr / Hyogo / Pitching, Inside, Outside
He throws a sharp ball inside and outside from his blessed physique pitcher Even if you hit it, it's the center of the team hitter "
#18 Kenichiro Kanazawa Tobo Nine Stream / Hyogo / Outside
"Not only does he have the momentum of the ball, but he can also manipulate the opponent at will pitcher and I have high expectations for him as a starter and reliever."
#34 Yusei Fujii Mikage Shonen Part baseball / Hyogo / Inside
" Orix Buffaloes A player who inherits the number 34 of the strong hitter of the junior left.

・Captain... #10 Saki Ogawa

"All of them are players to watch" - Coach Shiozaki talks about the strengths of the 2025 The Buffaloes Junior Team

　チームスタッフは、以下の方々。

代表　大久保 勝信
監督　塩崎 真
コーチ　吉田 直喜
コーチ　山本 和作
マネージャー　濵田 安耶香
トレーナー　川崎 里桜

　塩崎監督に2025年度のオリックス・バファローズジュニアについて聞いた。

「今年のチームはチームワークもよく元気があり非常に明るいチームです。投手陣が安定しているので少ないチャンスをものにできる粘り強さがあります」

　また注目選手については「注目してもらいたいのは全員なのですが、特にキャプテンの#10小川選手はチームをよく引っ張り盛り上げてくれています」と、キャプテンへの厚い信頼をにじませた。

　最後に、NPBジュニアトーナメントに向けての意気込みを聞くと、

「このメンバーで神宮、横浜で5試合戦えるよう頑張ると共に、子どもたちに最高の思い出を提供できるよう、スタッフ・保護者・自チームの関係者の皆さまと一丸となって戦いたいと思います」と、力強く締めくくった。オリックス・バファローズジュニアチームの熱戦にぜひご注目を！

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「NPBジュニアトーナメント」
「子どもたちが“プロ野球への夢”という目標をより身近に持てるように」との思いから日本野球機構（NPB）とプロ野球12球団が主催し開催する、小学5・6年生による軟式野球の全国大会。NPB12球団、NPBファーム公式戦参加2球団、日本独立リーグ野球機構加盟2リーグによって選抜・編成された計16のジュニアチームが、プロ球団本拠地のスタジアムを舞台に日本一の座をかけて戦う。これまで数多くのプロ野球選手が輩出された「プロの登竜門」ともいえる大会で、今年で開催は21回目。

◯日程
12月26日（金）～12月29日（月）4日間
◯会場
明治神宮野球場：12月26日（金）～29日（月）※予備日なし
横浜スタジアム：12月26日（金）～28日（日）※予備日29日（月）
◯一般入場
観戦無料
◯詳細はこちら

文・池田紗里