◇Saitama Seibu Lions sign development contract to Indian player, the first time in NPB history

As part of their 'Saitama Seibu Lions Overseas Strategy,' Saitama Seibu Lions has signed a developmental player contract for the 2026 season with Indian-born Akshai Mole pitcher. This is the first time an NPB team has signed a contract with an Indian player.

Mole pitcher boasts a solid physique of 194cm and 88kg, high athletic ability, a powerful fastball in the high 140 km/h range from a smooth pitch form, and a pitcher characterized by his distinctive fork ball. In a tryout held this June, he highly praised his potential and, despite about six years of baseball experience, also highly praised his sincere approach to baseball and ambition, signing a developmental player contract.

The "Saitama Seibu Lions Overseas Strategy" is an initiative promoted since November 2025 with the aim of strengthening the team's strength in acquiring foreign players and leveraging the development know-how the team has cultivated to discover and develop foreign players expected to excel in the NPB in the future. This not only strengthens the team's strength but also contributes to the development of the entire baseball community.

▼Akshay Mole pitcher ・ number 146▼
Born December 4, 2003, 22 years old / Hometown: India
194cm, 88kg / Right-handed pitcher and batter
[Career]
Shri. Narayandas Ramdas Highschool and Jr. College（Shri. Narayandas Lambdas High School & Junior College) - Lovely Professional University

▼Akshay Mole pitcher Comment▼
"I am truly grateful to The Lions for giving me such a wonderful opportunity. I will do my utmost to contribute to the team's win while learning a lot from my teammates and coaches. And I want to remain humble, work hard every day, and keep growing so that I can become a player trusted by the fans. I look forward to the day I can meet you all."

▼ Comment from Koji Hiroike, Director and Head of Team Headquarters ▼
"Mole pitcher, whose dream was to baseball in Japan, is a pitcher characterized by extended lengths that make the most of his tall stature. In addition to a fastball with a maximum speed of 150 km/h, he can handle breaking ball including sinker, splitter, change-up, and curves. In judo, he is an athlete who has also finished runner-up at national tournaments in India, and I am also attracted to his sincere character. Last year, he excelled in Baseball United, the first professional baseball league in the Middle East and South Asia region, and showed great potential in the tryout this June, so we decided to sign a developmental contract. I hope The Lions will grow significantly and become a beacon of hope for those baseball in India."

※: Distance from the plate of the release point. A numerical value indicating how far ahead the ball is being released.

◇ Fukuoka Softbank signs professional contracts with Chun-Wei Chang, Rodriguez, and Kobayashi Juto

Fukuoka Softbank signed roster player contracts with developmental players Chun-Wei Chang pitcher, Rodriguez pitcher, and Itsuto Kobayashi pitcher. Here are the profiles of each player and their minor league stats this season.

▼ Chun-Wei Chang (Zhang Junwei) pitcher ・ number 17▼
Born November 14, 2005 · 20 years old / Hometown: Taiwan
179cm, 82kg / Right-handed pitcher and batter
[Farm Team Results This Season]
10 games: 4 wins, 1 loss, 41.2 innings, ERA 2.81, WHIP 1.01

▼ Luis Rodriguez pitcher ・ number 85▼
Born August 18, 2001, 24 years old / Hometown: Dominica
182cm, 90kg / Right-handed pitcher and batter
[Farm Team Results This Season]
13 games: 2 wins, 1 loss, 13.1 innings, ERA 2.03, WHIP 1.05

▼Tatsuto Kobayashi pitcher ・ number 95▼
January 16, 2003 ・ 23 years old / Hometown: Wakayama
182cm, 87kg / Right-handed pitcher and batter
[Farm Team Results This Season]
8 games: 3 wins, 3 losses, 46 innings, ERA 2.15, WHIP 1.41

◇ Fukuoka Softbank Akira Nakamura 's first book, "Always, To Win," goes on sale August 5th.

Fukuoka Softbank player who will retire at the end of this season Akira Nakamura The release date for the player's first autobiography, "Always, To Win," has been set for August 5th (Wednesday). It will be available at bookstores nationwide, online bookstores, The Hawks Store, and The Hawks EC site.

Release date: August 5, 2026
Price: ¥1,980 (tax included)
Format/46 size
Number of pages/256 pages
Published by Baseball Magazine Co., Ltd.
*All royalties from Akira Nakamura will be donated to the Fukuoka Children's Hospital.

• Magazine title
"Always striving to win"
·band
"I spent two years reflecting on my life and writing about it."
・Contents
The days he walked to win, the teammates he fought alongside, and... his retirement from active play, his feelings for irreplaceable people. This is the story of courage and life woven by Akira Nakamura.

Chapter 1: Days of New Battles
Chapter 2: You never know what life will bring.
Chapter 3: The Beginning of a Long baseball Career
Chapter 4: Teikyo High School Days
Chapter 5: Entering the Professional World
Chapter 6: The Road to Becoming a Regular
Chapter 7: Anomaly
Chapter 8: Words that saved me
Chapter 9: Resolve - On Retirement

・ Updated almost daily! Today's Pacific League