On the 4th, Softbank Hawks win 2-1 in their game at Chunichi Vantelin Dome. On the 4th, CS Fuji TV ONE's "Pro baseball News 2026" focused on pitch of Hikaru Kimura, who came in as the second pitcher.

Commentator Chikao Ikeda praised Kimura, saying, "He's pitching in situations where he's absolutely essential right now, and what's great about him is his control and courage. His best feature is his excellent control. It might seem like he's suddenly appeared on the scene, but he's always been pitcher whose abilities have been proven, and he's steadily earned his important position. He went to the farm team once in mid-May, but it was just for adjustment. They gave him a little rest with the second half of the season in mind, to get himself in shape. Since returning, he's been used in good situations and has been getting solid results. His repertoire of pitches is limited to fastball, curveball, fork, and two seam fastball. The fact that he's still able to closer batters despite that is a testament to his control."

Ryota Igarashi, who was also appearing as a commentator, praised Kimura's pitching, saying, "He consistently delivers results in crucial situations, and his straight pitches have a great trajectory. He's an overhand pitcher, so when he throws breaking ball that drops vertically low, batters can't hit it. His appeal lies in being able to pitch over the plate."

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