[Koji Uehara & Seung-hwan Oh Join the Game!] Today’s Pacific League [October 9th] | Pacific League

[Koji Uehara and Seung-hwan Oh join the action!] Today’s Pacific League [October 9th]

Pacific League Insight

2025.10.9(木) 18:15

Koji Uehara and Seung-hwan Oh to participate in Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters’ “Japan-Korea Dream Players Game 2025 supported by DAISO”

Two former Major Leaguers from Japan and Korea will participate in the “Japan-Korea Dream Players Game 2025 supported by DAISO” to be held on Sunday, November 30 at ES CON FIELD.

The Giants Hanshin Tigers Koji Uehara, who played for four MLB teams including the Red Sox and became the first player in history to record 100 wins and 100 saves hold in Japan and the United States, and Seung-Hwan Oh, who recorded 549 saves for the Cardinals and three other countries in Japan, the United States and Korea, will participate in the event.

The match will be held to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between Japan and South Korea. As in the previous year, Japan will be coached by Tatsunori Hara and Korea by In-Sik Kim.

◇Two Tohoku Rakuten coaches leave the team

Tohoku Rakuten announced that Masahiko Tanaka (first-team battery coach) and Kanehisa Arime (second-team pitcher coach) will be leaving the team.

Tanaka served as the second-string battery coach for two years from 2023, and will serve as the first-string battery coach this season. Ariname served as the second-string pitcher coach for the past year.

Tohoku Rakuten Takuya appointed as battery coach

Tohoku Rakuten announced that Taku Ino will be appointed as battery coach starting from the 2026 season. Ino played for Tohoku Rakuten for seven years from 2006 to 2012. This season, he served as battery coach for Tokyo Yakult.

Saitama Seibu announces next season’s coaching staff

Saitama Seibu announced their coaching staff for next season. Masatoshi Okada, who was previously a team staff member, will be appointed as the third-string fielder coach, and Ryutaro Tsuji, who served as the second-string fielder coach this season, will be promoted to the position of second-string fielder chief coach.

※Titles omitted
・Director: Nishiguchi Fumiya
・Head coach: Yusuke Torigoe
・ pitcher pitching coach: Kiyoshi Toyoda
・ pitcher coach: Tatsuya Oishi
・Battery coach: Nakata Shota
・ fielder and batting coach: Toshihisa Nishi
・ Batting coach: Yoshiie Tachibana
・ infield defense and base running coach: Satoshi Kuroda
・ outfield defense and base running coach: Masato Kumashiro
・Farm manager: Tatsuya Koseki
・Farm pitcher chief coach: Yoshihiro Doi
Farm pitcher coach: Tomoo Watanabe
・Farm pitcher coach: Hayato Aoki
・Farm pitcher coach: Daiki Enokida
・Chief coach for second-string fielder: Ryutaro Tsuji
・ Second team fielder coach: Kosuke Noda
・ Second team fielder coach: Shogo Akada
・ Second team fielder coach: Hiroyuki Oshima
・ Second team fielder coach: Keiji Ohbiki
・Chief coach of the third team: Satoshi Aoki
・Third team fielder coach: Norio Tanabe
・Third-string fielder coach: Yuji Onizaki
・Third team fielder coach: Fuminori Kimura
・Third-string fielder coach: Masatoshi Okada

▼Comment from Hiroike Koji, General Manager of the Baseball Team▼
“Masatoshi Okada, who retired from active play in 2024 and was a member of the team’s staff, will be appointed as the third-string fielder coach. As the person in charge of training and human resource development, he has engaged in dialogue with players and conducted data analysis, achieving solid results. He will utilize his analytical skills and keen observational skills to provide more practical support on the field. In addition, Ryutaro Tsuji, who was the second-string fielder coach this season, will be promoted to the second-string fielder chief coach. Drawing on his own successful experience in implementing the team’s policy of ‘physical strengthening,’ he provides instruction that emphasizes linking it with technique, and we expect him to support the growth of each player as chief coach.”

◇ Chiba Lotte ‘s Hirokazu Sawamura leaves the team

Chiba Lotte Hirokazu Sawamura After much discussion with the team, pitcher announced that he would be leaving the team in order to continue playing.

▼Comment pitcher Sawamura▼
“In September 2020, I was struggling at the time, but it was because The Marines gave me an opportunity, and because the fans accepted me, that I was able to go to MLB, which was my dream. I’m truly grateful to my teammates and staff who fought alongside me for a total of three and a half years. I’m also grateful for the support of the best fans in Japan, who gave me that push. I look forward to seeing you again in good health. Please keep an eye on me.”

・ Updated almost daily! Today’s Pacific League

Related Links
・ Former Japanese and Korean major leaguers Koji Uehara and Seung-hwan Oh have been confirmed to participate!
・ Regarding the coaching contract (Tohoku Rakuten)
・ Regarding the new coach (Tohoku Rakuten)
・ Announcement regarding the 2026 season coaching staff (Saitama Seibu)
・ Regarding pitcher Sawamura’s departure