NPB teams announce roster changes and player releases

NPB professional baseball player releases SoftBank Hawks Yomiuri Giants

Several Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) teams have announced roster changes and player releases ahead of the upcoming season.

Orix Buffaloes notified five players—Kohei Higashi, Ryuhei Soya, Atsuya Fujikawa, Kaede Yokoyama, and Kento Kawase—that they will not be signing them to regular roster contracts, though development (ikusei) contracts have been offered. Soya and Fujikawa are both recovering from Tommy John surgery.

SoftBank Hawks have released six players from their regular roster, including infielder Yuto Akihiro, who was previously with the Yomiuri Giants. The Hawks are expected to offer Akihiro and several others, including Shunsuke Iwai and Toshiya Nakamura, development contracts.

In the Yomiomi Giants organization, outfielder Rui Mitsuka has been released via free agency, and infielder Dai Yuasa has been notified that his contract will not be renewed after nine seasons with the club.

Additionally, the Hiroshima Toyo Carp announced they will not sign pitcher Taiga Tsuji to a regular roster contract for the 2027 season following his recent elbow surgery.

Entities

Chiba Lotte Marines · Chunichi Dragons · Dai Yuasa · Haruki Hidaka · Hiroshima Carp · Hiroshima Toyo Carp · Makoto Kemuna · Orix Buffaloes · Ryoma Nishikawa · Ryotaro Mori · Shogo Asano · SoftBank Hawks

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 3 SOURCES] Hiroshima Toyo Carp notified six players they will not be renewed for next season.
[● 2 SOURCES] Haruki Hidaka joined Hiroshima as player compensation for Ryoma Nishikawa's transfer from Orix.
[○ 1 SOURCE] All six released players wish to continue their professional careers.
[● 3 SOURCES] The released players are Makoto Kemuna, Ginji Hasebe, Tatsuya Matsumoto, Haruki Hidaka, Taiga Tsuji, and Takahiro Nakamura.
[● 2 SOURCES] Taiga Tsuji is expected to be offered a developmental contract.