⚾[Orix]To acquire new helpers for pitching and hitting: Thomas, who hits for the cycle in 3A this season, and former Lotte Castillo, who has excellent ball control 🧢

This season, Kei Nakagawa, who is registered as an infielder, is the only member of the team’s outfield who has completed all required at-bats. Nishikawa, who transferred from Hiroshima to the free agency, is expected to be a regular on the left wing, and the addition of Thomas will add depth to the team. It has been decided that Cedeño will remain as a helper fielder, and Gonzalez is certain to remain. Competition for foreigner slots is also likely to become fierce. At the same time, they are also looking to acquire right-hander Castillo. This season, he pitched in 12 games for Lotte, with 3 wins, 3 losses, and 1 hold, and an ERA of 3.12. He regularly threw fastballs over 150km/h using his irregular form, and his ball control was excellent, with only three walks (two hit by pitches) in 49 innings. He pitched in three games against Orix (one relief game) and had an ERA of 1.72. He held Mori, the left and right batter, to one hit in six at bats, and Kei Nakagawa to one hit in seven at bats. He can play as a reliever, but the team seems to expect him to be a starter. Yamamoto was transferred to the Dodgers, and Fuku Yamazaki was transferred to Nippon-Ham, making it essential to strengthen pitchers who could calculate. The goal for next season is to win the league for the fourth time in a row and regain the number one spot in Japan. The Pacific champions will not let up on reinforcements. ◆Cody Thomas Born October 8, 1994 in the United States. He is 29 years old. He joined the Dodgers in the 13th round of the 2016 draft. He made his major league debut with the Athletics in 2022. He has a batting average of .250, one home run, and two RBIs in 29 games in the major leagues. He is 193 cm and 96 kg. He is a right-handed pitcher and a left-handed hitter. ◆Luis Castillo Born March 10, 1995 in the Dominican Republic. He is 28 years old. He played for the D-backs from 2012 to 2021 and made his major league debut with the Tigers in 2022. He has 0 wins, 0 losses and an ERA of 0.00 in three major league games.He joined Lotte in the 2022 off-season. Won a bronze medal as a representative of the Dominican Republic at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. He is 190 cm and 96 kg. Right-handed pitcher, right-handed hitter.