SoftBank Hawks rookie Sakurai hits farm league first homer; teammate Inagawa injured before comeback

SoftBank Hawks rookie Sakurai (佐倉俠史朗) recorded his first farm‑league home run on June 14, belting a three‑run shot to right‑field in a West‑division game against the Hanshin Tigers. The homer helped SoftBank secure an 8‑2 victory. Sakurai, a 2023 third‑round draft pick from Kyushu International University, has posted a .389 batting average over six farm games.

Two days later, another Hawks rookie, Inagawa Ryuta, suffered an injury just before he was scheduled to make his pitching comeback. The injury halted his return to action, prompting disappointment among the team and fans.