Orix Buffaloes announced that Nobuyoshi Yamada pitcher and Masahiro Nishino will retire at the end of this season. After the match on Saturday, September 26, a retirement ceremony for the two players will be held.

pitcher Yamada joined the team as the third pick in the 2009 draft. He switched to reliever in 2018, and from 2019, he appeared in 40 games for three consecutive years. In 2023, he supported the team with a bullpen of 6 hold and a 1.15 ERA in 32 games, helping the team win three consecutive league championships. In his 17th season, he mainly spent time in the farm league, but in the first team, he posted a ERA 1.13 ERA in 14 games.

Nishi fielder’s choice, who joined the team as the seventh pick in the 2014 draft, left a mark with a .304 batting average in 57 games from his rookie year, and settled into starting line-up as second baseman in 2016, appearing in all 143 games. Last season, he had a solid .287 batting average in 75 games, but in his 11th year, he hit a career-high 7 Home Run. This season, he has batted .206 in 42 games so far.

▼ Yamada pitcher Comment ▼
"At the end of this season, I have decided to retire from active play. I never imagined I could remain a professional baseball player for 17 years. Day by day, year after year, I desperately faced baseball and desperately thought about how to survive in this world. Looking back, of course, there were many good things, but I think there were more painful times than injuries, surgeries, and the days when I couldn't baseball.

I joined the team after high school and was nurtured both as a person and baseball Orix Buffaloes team, as well as the manager, coaches, trainers, teammates, and everyone who was involved with me. And Orix Buffaloes fans have always given me warm support, through good times and bad. I am truly grateful.

Above all, I've come this far thanks to my family's support. Thank you so much. It was a happy professional baseball life. Thank you so much for 17 years."

▼ Nishi fielder’s choice Comment ▼
"I have decided to retire at the end of this season. I have been a pro baseball for 12 years since joining Orix Buffaloes, but I have had many injuries and many difficult times. Through all that, I was able to keep going this far thanks to the support of many people, including the manager, coaches, trainers, and team staff who have been involved in my baseball life. I am truly grateful from the bottom of my heart.

And I want to express my gratitude to my family as well. My father, who gave me the opportunity to start baseball and taught me baseball. My mother, who always supported and cheered me on. My older brother, who always cared for and supported me. Thank you.

To all the fans. Thank you for always giving me passionate support, in good times and bad. You always gave me a lot of strength and support from everyone. I am truly grateful. I'm really glad we were able to baseball at Orix Buffaloes. Thank you so much for all 12 years."