[Orix] Keisuke Honda, who has decided to retire from active play, will start again as a batting pitcher for his former Seibu “so that it will be beneficial for the players.”
Sports Hochi
2025.10.31(金) 23:40
Keisuke Honda (32), a former pitcher for the Orix Buffaloes who has announced his retirement and is expected to return to Seibu next season as a batting pitcher, reflected on his 10 years in professional baseball, saying, “I had a truly happy baseball career, so I have no regrets.” He also frankly revealed his thoughts, saying, “I’m sure there will be times when it’s difficult to get the ball to hit, but I just want to be able to support the players and do my best to help them.”
After graduating from Tohoku Gakuin University, he joined Seibu as the sixth pick in the 2015 draft. He transferred to Orix in last offseason’s active player draft, but was notified on the 14th of this month that he was no longer a part of the team. At that time, he received an invitation from his former team, and said, “I had always wanted to return (ultimately), so I’m really happy,” and decided to embark on a “second baseball career.”
Looking back on his year with Orix, he said, “It was really intense.” He added, “I didn’t get any results, and I couldn’t contribute to Orix, so I feel really sorry about that, but it was a good experience in the sense that I learned something different.”
He has been playing for exactly 10 years. One of the reasons he was able to make the firm decision to retire is his gratitude to Seibu the club that raised him. “I think it would not have been strange if my (professional baseball) career had ended earlier. I feel like I have been able to play longer than I would have liked, thanks to the strength I received from all the people who helped me at The Lions. I ended up playing somewhere else, and it was a pretty tough year, as I realized how difficult it is to perform well from your first year and how difficult it is to fit in properly. When I felt like I had done everything I could, I had the feeling that I wanted to quit. I felt like I had accomplished everything.”
He took part in the fall camp that started on the 30th in Tokorozawa, Saitama, and on the first day assisted with batting practice. “I’ve been honing myself to throw the ball a little better. I don’t want to become a different person just to be a batting pitcher, so I hope to use what I’ve cultivated to become a batting pitcher that is as close to real-life as possible,” he said, but he also faced a new obstacle: “I’m not throwing from mound or throwing with all my might, so that’s very difficult.” However, he smiles gently and says, “It’s fun,” as he enjoys his days.
Currently searching for a home, he is temporarily living at the Wakashishi dormitory in Tokorozawa, Saitama. “It reminded me a little of my younger days. Like the slightly chilly feeling of January.” Honda, affectionately known by fans as “Pon-chan,” is restarting by returning to his roots in the place where he took his first steps as a professional. (Oonaka Ayami)
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