The Seibu Lions head into a five-game away stretch with renewed momentum, and right-hander Yutaro Watanabe (25) will take the mound on May 12 against the SoftBank Hawks — the same lineup that knocked him around in his last outing. “I want to come back with a strong mindset and get revenge,” Watanabe said, fired up for the rematch. The outcome of this start could influence his role going forward, making it a pivotal game for the young pitcher.
Last week, the Lions’ MVP was undeniably Shinya Sugai (22), who delivered two spot starts — winning on Monday and again on Sunday. After Hiromasa Taira (26) was sidelined with conditioning issues, Sugai stepped up on short rest in a modern rarity and answered the call emphatically. “Standing on the hero interview platform twice in one week makes me very happy,” he said, adding a touch of charm. Infielder Taiga Hirasawa (28) also stood out, but the week belonged to Sugai.
Looking ahead, the Lions could also welcome the debut of new foreign right-hander Alan Wynns (30, formerly with the Yankees). The team hopes to build on its recent upward trend and create a favorable environment.
In farm team news, leadoff man Masayuki Kuwahara (32) is nearing a return to the first team. Recovering steadily from a left calf strain, he rejoined the second-team practice on May 9. Kuwahara had previously set a goal of returning to game action by mid-May, and if all goes well, he could be back on the field starting May 15 in the second-team game against the Yomiuri Giants at Carmine Field.
The club also announced this summer’s “AOFES” event, along with a limited-edition uniform. Outfielder Aiya Nishikawa (26), who modeled the blue jersey inspired by Tokorozawa’s sky and sunset, said, “It’s really cool!” The event runs from July 31 to August 26, with the uniforms worn across all 14 first-team games during that period.
