Hatsuhiko Tsuji and Masaki Saito, who appeared on 'Professional baseball News 2026' broadcast on Fuji TV ONE on the 5th, mentioned both veterans of the Rakuten Eagles, Takayuki Kishi and Kenta Maeda.

Tsuji gave them his seal of approval, saying, "These two are wonderful. They serve as role models and can pitch for a long time. I hope the younger players will learn from them and grow."

Saito sent a message of encouragement, saying, "The same goes for pitcher Kishi, doesn't it? He can still throw effectively even after turning 40. His control is truly excellent. There are plenty of great role models for the younger players, so I'm sure they are listening to what he has to say, but I hope they continue to work hard to get even a little bit closer to their seniors from now on."

In his 20th season this year, Kishi pitched 66 innings across 11 games, recording 5 wins, 5 losses, and an ERA of 2.73. Kenta Maeda pitched 86 1/3 innings across 15 games, recording 6 wins, 4 losses, and an ERA of 2.19.

☆ Cooperation: Fuji TV ONE "Professional baseball News 2026"