Seibu announced that Hisanobu Watanabe, an The Lions alumnus and general manager until last year, will throw out the first pitch at the Rakuten game to be held at Jomo Shimbun Shikishima Stadium in Gunma Prefecture on March 15.

Yokoo Daily Foods Co., Ltd., an official sponsor of Saitama Seibu Lions and the title sponsor of the game on that day, asked Watanabe, a native of Gunma Prefecture, to throw the first pitch at the ceremonial opening ceremony, and the appearance was made possible.