Shohei Tateyama and Akihiko Oya, who appeared on "Pro baseball News 2026" broadcast on Fuji TV ONE on the 23rd, commented on Lotte's Akira Yagi.

Yagi took the mound in the game against the Rakuten Eagles that same day, with the score tied 1–1 in the fifth inning with no outs (bases loaded). He induced a swinging strike from Ryosuke Tatsumi (struck out) and then got the next batter, McCusker, to ground out to shortstop, escaping a dire, high-pressure situation without allowing a run.

Mr. Tateyama praised him, saying, “It’s amazing, isn’t it? No outs bases loaded and he’s in the heart of the lineup, too. It’s as if he knows exactly how to closer get out of a jam. While two seam fastball and fork are his main pitches, he consistently throws inside to both right-handed and left-handed batters, and he’s become a player who can really change the momentum of the game.”

Oya also said, "Doing what you can leads to good results. In reliever case, I often give up pitcher like this when I'm in a pinch. Luck and courage are also counted as key points for getting him to pitch. Otherwise, you can't get 8 wins as a reliever. He's reliable," he praised.

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