Orix to part with six players; 2023 batting champion Tongu offered farm deal
In short
Orix announced on Oct. 5 that it has notified six players it will not sign for next season, including catcher Yuma Tongu (29), the 2023 batting champion, who is expected to be offered a developmental contract. Tongu injured his right knee badly at spring camp and had surgery in July, and did not appear in a game this season. Relief pitcher Shota Abe (33), who contributed to the club's three straight league titles from 2021, and four developmental players were also notified.
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Orix announced on Oct. 5 that it has notified six players it will not sign them for next season: catcher Yuma Tongu (29), pitcher Shota Abe (33) and developmental players Kazuya Katsuki (30), Takehiro Ashida (26), Hiroto Suga (21) and Kyoichiro Murakami (25). Livedoor News, Yahoo! News Japan and Nikkei all reported the club's announcement, with Nikkei crediting Kyodo, and Nippon TV News reported that the six were outside the club's plans for next season. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Tongu was the 2023 batting champion. According to the reports, he suffered a serious injury to his right knee at this year's spring camp and underwent surgery in July, and he made no appearances this season; Yahoo! News Japan said he had been in rehabilitation toward a return to competition. Livedoor News, Yahoo! News Japan and Nikkei said he is expected to be offered a developmental contract, but none of the documents reports that he has accepted one or gives his response. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Abe was a relief pitcher who, Livedoor News and Nikkei reported, contributed to the club's three straight league titles from 2021. Nippon TV News noted in its headline that Abe recorded a 0.61 earned-run average in 2022. Alongside him, Orix also notified four developmental players, Katsuki, Ashida, Suga and Murakami, according to the same reports. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
The documents quote no club comment explaining the decisions beyond the reported details of Tongu's injury, and they give no terms for the developmental contract Tongu is expected to be offered. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Why it matters
The decision takes a former batting champion and a long-serving relief pitcher off the club's first-team roster for next season, and the reported plan to re-sign Tongu on a developmental deal would move him outside the regular squad. For Orix, the announcement sets the shape of next season's roster; for the players named, the club said it will not sign them for next season.
Key facts
- Orix announced on Oct. 5 that it notified six players it will not sign them for next season. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The six are catcher Yuma Tongu (29), pitcher Shota Abe (33) and developmental players Kazuya Katsuki (30), Takehiro Ashida (26), Hiroto Suga (21) and Kyoichiro Murakami (25). [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Tongu won the batting title in 2023 and is expected to be offered a developmental contract. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Tongu injured his right knee badly at spring camp, had surgery in July and did not play this season. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Abe contributed as a relief pitcher to the club's three straight league titles from 2021. [ 2 , 4 ]
- Nippon TV News noted Abe recorded a 0.61 earned-run average in 2022. [ 1 ]
- Yahoo! News Japan reported Tongu had been in rehabilitation toward a return to competition after the July surgery. [ 3 ]
Still unclear
- Whether Tongu accepts a developmental contract. The documents say a developmental contract is expected to be offered, but none reports an agreement or the player's response.
- Orix's stated reasons for the six decisions, beyond Tongu's injury. No club comment or stated rationale is quoted in any of the documents.
- The terms and length of any developmental contracts. The documents mention the expected offer but give no contract details.
- Shota Abe's 2022 earned-run average of 0.61. Reported only by Nippon TV News, in its headline, and not by the other documents.
- Orix announced on Oct. 5 that it will not sign six players for next season and has notified them. Reported by a single source so far
- Yuma Tongu, 29, is expected to be offered a developmental contract. Reported by a single source so far
- Tongu was injured in the right knee at this year's spring camp, underwent surgery in July and made no appearances this season. Reported by a single source so far
- The other players notified are Shota Abe (33), Kazuya Katsuki (30), Takehiro Ashida (26), Hiroto Suga (21) and Kyoichiro Murakami (25). Reported by a single source so far
- Abe contributed as a relief pitcher to the club's three straight league titles from 2021. Reported by a single source so far
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Nippon TV News reports that Orix has informed six players, including 2023 batting champion Yuma Tongu and Shota Abe, that they are outside next season's plans. [ 1 ]
- Livedoor News reports the club's announcement, saying Tongu had a serious right knee injury at spring camp and surgery in July and is expected to be offered a developmental contract. [ 2 ]
- Yahoo! News Japan reports the club announcement naming all six players and notes Tongu's rehabilitation after the July surgery. [ 3 ]
- Nikkei reports the same announcement, crediting Kyodo. [ 4 ]