Tokyo International News Agency

On April 7, 2026, at Fukuoka PayPay Dome, Seibu Lions player Yuta Nakami (23) hit his long-awaited first professional home run against the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, significantly contributing to snapping the team's four-game losing streak. The two-run blast was a towering shot that "was clear it was out the moment it was hit," solidifying the team's decisive victory. The Lions' offense finally showed cohesion that day, recording double-digit hits for the first time in eight games. In addition to Nakami's first pro home run, Shuta Tonosaki also hit his first two-run homer of the season, and starting pitcher Chihiro Sumida earned his first win of the season, creating a well-rounded performance from both pitching and batting. Nakami's powerful hit, in particular, was a valuable catalyst for a team languishing in sole possession of last place, enabling them to defeat the formidable SoftBank, who were leading the league. After hitting his first professional home ...

It was announced on the 25th that Yokohama DeNA BayStars outfielder Masashi Kuwahara (32) will transfer to the Saitama Seibu Lions after exercising his free agency rights. This sudden move has come as a great shock to baseball fans, particularly those of the DeNA BayStars, and has garnered significant attention, with "Kuwahara Seibu" becoming a trending topic on social media. Many fans expressed surprise at the transfer, with comments like "Kuwahara to Seibu, seriously?" and "Kuwahara to Seibu, I'm a bit too surprised" quickly appearing. Many DeNA fans voiced their sadness, saying things like "I wish he'd stayed with the BayStars" and "I wanted him to be a BayStars player for life." However, some also expressed relief that he wasn't moving to another Central League team, commenting, "It's good that it's the Pacific League" or "We just have to think it's better that it's only the Pacific League....

On September 6, 2025, in a Pacific League professional baseball game, Saitama Seibu Lions pitcher Yutaro Watanabe achieved his first career complete game and shutout victory against the Lotte Marines. What was particularly remarkable about his performance was that he completed all nine innings with just 97 pitches and no walks, accomplishing the rare feat known as a "Maddux." From the first inning, Watanabe displayed stable pitching, giving the Lotte lineup no opportunities to gain an advantage. He held the mound for all nine innings, marking his career-first complete game and shutout with a "Maddux" that impressed baseball fans. After the game, a visibly excited Watanabe commented, "The adrenaline in the ninth inning was insane," as he was met with thunderous applause from the stands. Meanwhile, on offense, Aiya Nishikawa had an outstanding performance. He led off the first inning with a solo home run to put the Lions ahead, then added timely hits in the ...