Offensive performance has improved significantly.

The Saitama Seibu Lions Lions are in excellent form. They won seven straight games from May 6th to 15th, and took the top spot with win on May 17th, continuing their impressive run so far. Factors contributing to this include their league-leading starter staff and the strong defense of fielder, but it's impossible to ignore the improvement in their hitting power when considering the changes from last season. In 2024, they finished with a team batting average of .212, the worst in Pacific League history, and in 2025, their various batting statistics were the worst in the league, highlighting a clear lack of scoring power as a problem in recent years. However, this season, their statistics, including slugging percentage, have improved dramatically, and they are now playing one of the league's top offenses.

The majority of the increasing number of home run are pulled hits.

Looking at the Saitama Seibu Lions' team Home Run totals, in 2024 they had the worst 60 in the league, and the following year they were fourth-best with 80. However, this season they have hit 50 home run after 59 games, a pace faster than usual. What's also noteworthy is the direction of their hits. Of the 50 Home Run they've hit so far, only 3 Home Run gone to center fielder field and just 1 to the opposite field. The remaining 46 have been pulled home runs, accounting for approximately 92% of the total. While it's true that most of their home runs are pulled, which is easier to hit hard, the Saitama Seibu Lions' percentage of pulled Home Run this season is by far the highest in the league.

He consistently produced angled pull shots against slower pitches.

The increase in pull Home Run is not the result of reckless maneuvering. Next, I want to introduce the "pull-air ratio," which indicates the percentage of fly line drive hit in the pull direction. Angled pull-up balls are said to lead to good results such as extra-base hits and Home Run, and pull-air is a trend indicator in Major League Baseball. Looking at the pull-air ratio by pitch speed band, Saitama Seibu Lions this season ranked among the league's top numbers compared to pitch in the 130 km/h range, with speeds below 129 km/h and in the 130 km/h range. Especially at speeds below 129 km/h, the score increased by 6.6 points from last season, successfully increasing the number of pull-and-angle shots against loose balls.

His ability to hit slower pitches for extra-base hits is second to none in the league.

Looking at his batting stats by pitch speed band, the effect is obvious. Against pitch below 129 km/h and in the 130 km/h range, he recorded the second highest batting average in the league. ISO, which demonstrates pure power hitting by excluding single hit, also ranks among the league's top numbers in the 130 km/h velocity range. On the other hand, the ISO for pitch in the 140 km/h range is average at 4th in the league, but their batting average is not a struggle, as it leads the league. His ability to keep fast pitches compact and loose pitches for extra power is undoubtedly the key to his recent progress.

The slugger, in his second year in Japan, is the symbol of the batting lineup.

Tyler Nevin is a prime example of this team's approach. In his first year in Japan last season, he recorded 21 Home Run and 63 RBI, ranking third in the league. This season, he got off to a slow start due to injury, but since his return, he has posted a .304 batting average and 24 RBI in 31 games, playing a leading role in the team's strong performance. Furthermore, he has hit 11 home run Home Run in 129 plate appearances so far, a remarkable pace, and this is underpinned by his aforementioned approach of hitting slower pitches. Comparing his pull-air ratio to last season, the numbers for pitch below 130 km/h have increased significantly, mirroring the team's overall trend. Nine of his 11 Home Run so far have come from pitches in this speed range. The reliable slugger, who had a brilliant performance last year, has evolved into an even more refined hitter by adopting this new approach.

While we will only go into detail about Nevin, players like Shinya Hasegawa and Taiga Hirasawa, who have shown remarkable improvement, and newcomer Masayuki Kuwahara have also succeeded in increasing the number of extra-base hits by actively leading the team. With a solid wall and wall that is showing new approaches, the Saitama Seibu Lions this season are coming together. After overcoming their historically poor hitting, a league championship for the first time in seven years awaits them.

*All figures in the text and tables are as of June 11, 2026.

Text by Data Stadium