◇Chiba Lotte Marines vs Fukuoka Softbank Game 24 (2nd, Zozo Marine Stadium)

Chiba Lotte Marines' draft 4th pick rookie, Yuya Sakurai, recorded his first professional hit.

Sakurai, who made his first professional starting line-up appearance as the "No. 8 third baseman." He ended his first and second at-bats with swinging struck out against the opponent's starter, Yugo Maeda pitcher, but a joyful hit was born in his third at-bat in the bottom of the 7th inning. On the 4th pitch with a 1-2 count, he hit an outside fork toward the center fielder, and the ball went through to the outfield for his first hit.

He joined the team as the 4th draft pick from Shohei High School. In the farm league, he appeared in 102 games and showed his presence despite being in his first year out of high school, with a .245 batting average, 6 Home Run 43 RBI. Although he was promoted to the first team in May, he ended up hitless in two pinch-hitting at-bats, but this promotion yielded results.

◇Yuya Sakurai Comment
"I don't know what pitch I hit. It was a breaking ball. I had been doing nothing but struck out and didn't know what to do, but coaches and seniors talked to me, and with the feeling of 'let's do my best next time' and 'let's swing firmly in the next at-bat,' I hung in there at the end, so I'm glad that turned into a hit. I will give the ball to my mother."

◇Yuya Sakurai's First Records
First hit October 2, 2026, vs Fukuoka Softbank

Text by Minagi Niwa