◇Tohoku Rakuten Eagles vs. Saitama Seibu Lions Game 14 (18th · Rakuten Eagles Mobile: Strongest Park Miyagi)

Tohoku Rakuten Eagles ’s Akira Shigenaga hit made his professional debut. In a game where the lead was tied twice, he delivered the go-ahead RBI hit.

Shigenaga, who rejoined the first team before the game, was starting line-up placed in the lineup as the “No. 7 batter, third baseman.” In the bottom of the 7th inning with the score tied at 2–2, he stepped up to the plate for his third at-bat with two outs and a runner on third. Facing a At Bat no-hit count, he swung aggressively at the pitch thrown by the opposing starter, Natsuki Takeuchi pitcher first baseman strike, he swung aggressively. line drive The well-hit ball resulted in a clean single to left field.

This marked Shigenaga’s first professional hit—hit—in his 12th at-bat across six games since his second promotion to the first team. In the farm system, he had appeared in 63 games and posted an impressive .328 batting average.Since being removed from the first-team roster on May 15, he has appeared in 33 games, recording 123 At Bat 43 hit at a .350 batting average. In June, he was named the farm system’s Monthly MVP for the second time this season, continuing to hone his batting skills.

◇ Comment from Shigenaga
“I hit a fastball. I’m just so happy! I’m glad the work I’ve been putting in at the farm level is finally paying off (smiles).”

◇ Shigenaga’s First Milestones
First Appearance: May 2, 2026 vs. Fukuoka Softbank
First hit: July 18, 2026, vs. Saitama Seibu Lions

Text by Aoi Yokoyama