As practice games and exhibition games begin in the latter half of February, anticipation for the start of the season is building. For Pacific League fans who can't wait for the season to begin, Pacific League Insight introduces players to watch for the 2026 season. This time, we're looking at Orix Buffaloes The Buffaloes player Shuna Hori.

Shuna Hori Hori

Highly regarded for his footwork and strong shoulders, he was drafted fourth overall in the 2023 draft out of Houtoku Gakuen High School. catcher He is 20 years old and in his third year after graduating from high school.

In his rookie year, 2024, he played 72 games in the farm and marked a .254 batting average. He had a particularly good September, hitting .310 with 42 At Bat 13 hit runs batted in. defense In the second half of the year, he recorded a .288 block rate with 15 stops on 52 stolen base attempts. It was a year in which he made his presence felt offensively and defensively.

In 2025, he played in 79 games, but his batting average was .215, which did not produce the same results as the previous year. However, in defense, while defending 123 inning more, the number of errors and catches decreased. stolen base The blocking rate was also .394, which was higher than the previous year. In the first team, he made his first professional appearance on September 4th, and on October 3rd, he entered the first starting line-up with "No. 8 catcher". In the bottom of the first inning, he blocked a stolen base from a Taisei Makihara player, and also recorded his first professional hit in his second at-bat in the top of the fifth.

He started the 2026 spring training camp in Group B, but made an impression in the Red vs. White game on February 14th, blocking two stolen base with an accurate throw to second base. He also made an appearance in the practice game the following day, recording one hit in two at-At Bat. Will he be able to win trust with his offense and defense and move on to the first-team stage?