[Orix] Kodai Sano is released from the team… After switching to fielder, he has a total of 97 hit and 50 stolen base “Winning three consecutive championships as fielder was a great experience.” His future is undecided.
Sports Hochi
2025.10.2(木) 13:00
On the 2nd, Orix announced that they have informed outfielder Kodai Sano that he will not be signing a player contract for next season. His future is undecided. “I was injured for two years straight, and the thought of being cut from the roster crossed my mind. But becoming fielder and winning three consecutive championships was a really good experience for me. I’m really glad that I worked so hard,” he said, looking back on his 11 years with the team.
Sano joined Orix as pitcher in the 2014 draft as the third pick out of Oita High School, and by his third year had pitched in 46 games in Western League. However, he never pitched in the first team, and in the offseason of 2017, the team notified him that his contract as a controlled player was being terminated.
Nevertheless, he made a fresh start as a fielder player by switching to a position player in 2018, demonstrating his speed and returning to the regular roster on July 31st. He made his first-team debut as a pinch runner in a game against Softbank Hawks (Kyocera Dome Osaka) on October 5th. The following year, 2019, he made his first appearance on the opening day first team, recording his first professional hit in the same game on April 2nd (same venue). He hit his first Home Run in the same game on July 6th (Hotto Kobe), and that year he made a stepping stone to success with 25 hit and 12 stolen base bases in 68 games.
In 2020, he changed number to 41 and recorded a career-high 20 stolen base in just 77 games. From 2021 to 2023, when the team won three consecutive championships, he not only played in the starting starting line-up but also as a pinch runner and defense replacement, recording a total of 18 stolen base as a foot specialist, contributing as an indispensable player.
However, in 2012, he suffered a right ankle injury and only played in four games for the first team. This was his 11th season, and the first time he hadn’t played since returning to the regular team. Still, he played not only as an outfielder, his main outfield, but also as first baseman for the Western League. His honest approach to baseball as a big brother role set a good example for young players like Yamashita and Moto.
His career record is 97 hit, 5 Home Run, and 50 stolen base in 342 games. “Half of my time is spent playing (continuing) and half is spent retiring. It was great to be able to try different things,” he emphasized.
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AloJapan.com