[Softbank Hawks] The 26-man opening day roster has been decided. Two rookies, Ryuta Inagawa and Gota Suzuki, have been registered. Former closer Osuna has been left off the roster.

Sports Hochi

March 26, 2026 16:29

Nippon-Ham Ham Fighters manager Tsuyoshi Shinjo and Softbank Hawks Hawks manager Hiroki Kokubo shake hands at the press conference (from left) (Photo by Hidenori Baba)

On the 26th, NPB announced the player registrations for both the Central and Pacific Leagues.

Softbank Hawks, who won the league title for the second consecutive year and the Japan Series last season, registered 26 players. Two pitcher were selected from the rookies: second-round draft pick Ryuta Inagawa (Kyushu Kyoritsu University) and third-round draft pick Gota Suzuki (Osaka Commercial University). Osuna, who was expected to compete with Sugiyama for the closer role, was left off the roster.

The season will begin on the 27th with a game against Nippon-Ham Fighters at Mizuho PayPay Dome.

　

The 26 players registered to participate are as follows: (* indicates a rookie)

▽ pitcher

Uesawa, *Inagawa, *Suzuki Go, Sugiyama, Ito, Hernandez, Kamichatani, Matsumoto Yu, Kimura

▽ catcher

Tanigawara, Unno

▽ infielder

Kawase, Yamakawa, Imamiya, Nakamura, Makihara Dai, Kurihara, Shoji, Hirose Takashi, Ihine, Nomura

▽ outfielder

Kondo, Yanagida, Shuto, Yanagimachi, Kawamura