There are two special relief players from the WBC representative, but the 40-year-old guarding the back door of Orix, who left Yamamoto

Orix Buffaloes ranked first in the Pacific League for three consecutive years. Last year, they beat Chiba Lotte Marines and Softbank Hawks, who ranked 2nd and 3rd without a win, by 15.5 games to reach the top. Fourth hitter Masataka Yoshida (31) transferred to the Boston Red Sox, but free agent (free agent) catcher Tomoya Mori (29) was brought in to fill in. Mori is a slugger who became the batting champion with the Seibu Lions, recording .329 li in 2019. He ranked first in batting among Pacific League catchers in 54 years. 4 years, 1.8 billion yen (about 16.46 billion won). The cost of recruiting Mori was not a problem. Yoshida went to the major league with his original team, Orix, receiving a posting fee of $15.375 million (about 20.14 billion won). Orix in 2024, aiming to win the league for the fourth year. Power leakage is worse than last year. Yoshinobu Yamamoto (26), who won four titles in multiple wins, ERA, strikeouts, and winning percentage for three consecutive years, left for the LA Dodgers. It is impossible to completely fill the gap of the ‘super ace’ who posted 49 wins (16 losses, ERA 1.44) over the past three years. Left-hander Sachiya Yamasaki (32), who was a member of the starting lineup, was released as a free agent and wore a Nippon Ham Fighters uniform. In 2023, Yamamoto posted 16 wins (6 losses, ERA 1.21) and Yamasaki 11 wins (5 losses, 3.25), but 27 wins were lost. Mound reorganization became inevitable. Two young pitchers, left-handed ace Hiroya Miyagi (23) and last year's opening game starter Shumpeida Yamashita (22), will be the starting pitchers' 'two tops'. Miyagi won 10 wins last year, and Yamashita won 9 wins. Right-hander Azuma Kohei (24) is also attracting attention. He debuted in the first team in 2022 and won one game, but last season he recorded six wins. The starting lineup changes, but the closing pitcher remains the same. Orix coach Satoshi Nakajima (54) announced through Japanese media on the 3rd that 40-year-old veteran Yoshihisa Hirano will be in charge of the tailgate this year as well. Hirano pitched 40 innings in 42 games last year, recording 29 saves (3 wins, 2 losses, 5 holds) and an ERA of 1.13. for more info check this : https://www.sportstotoking.com