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The Saitama Seibu Lions announced on Monday that seven players who will not be offered a contract on the 70-man roster for the 2027 season.
C Shoya Makino, OF Yudai Furukawa, P Minato Aoyama, P Ryota Itogawa, P Takeru Sasaki, OF Tokumasa Chano and OF Kuan-Chen Lin were designated at the Senryokugai 戦力外 post-draft.
Here is a summary of their careers with their departure statements released by the team:
C Shoya Makino
Makino was a fifth round pick out of high school in 2018. After battling injuries and mostly staying on the farm, he appeared in 50 ichi-gun games from 2022-2025. He could never crack the lineup as a regular.
Eight years have flown by. As a developmental player, I had the experience of climbing my way up from a difficult situation, and I am grateful that I was able to play again as a regular.
When I first joined the team, it was an unknown world and there were so many amazing players with experience around me. I wasn't able to achieve the results I wanted and my playing career didn't turn out the way I had envisioned, but I was blessed with great older teammates (senpai), coaches, and younger teammates (kohai). In particular, the day
I remember returning to the ichi-gun roster from the ikusei for the first time, I teamed up with (2018 draft classmate) Yutaro Watanabe as a battery, and we stood on the podium together after a shutout victory, which was a truly memorable experience.
To all the fans, thank you for your support so far. I am truly disappointed that I couldn't achieve results and contribute to the team, but your passionate and warm support has always been a source of strength for me.
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P Ryota Itogawa
Itogawa was a Shakaijin 7th round draft pick in 2023 out of ENEOS. He was part of the ichi-gun for 2024, but took mostly low leverage duties for his entire career, not being good enough for meaningful innings. As one of the oldest draft picks of the class, he couldn't make an immediate impact. His final ichi-gun game with the Lions was on May 3.
Looking back on my three years with the Lions, I am truly sorry that I was unable to fully meet the team's expectations and contribute more. On the other hand, I also feel that I steadily improved from [each season]. I believe that the Lions' environment, where I was taught from various perspectives by the coaches and staff, contributed to my growth.
My biggest memory was from the game last year at Belluna Dome where I pitched in the top of the 12th inning with the score tied. I still vividly remember the cheers when I took the mound in a tense situation for the first time and retired the side in order. A game this year at Escon Field Hokkaido where I recorded my first hold also remains in my memory.
This year, compared to previous years, I have had many more opportunities to hear people say, 'I bought your uniform,' or 'I bought your towel.' That's why my biggest regret to the fans is that I wasn't able to showcase my pitching at each game at Belluna Dome. Especially since the summer, I received tremendous support whenever I took the mound in ni-gun. That support really motivated me and made me feel very strong. It made me think, 'I still have a long way to go.' Thank you very much.
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OF Kuan-chen Lin
Lin was a fourth round draft pick out of college in 2024. Unfortunately, he never played an ichi-gun game in two seasons and last appeared in 13 farm games for 2026. Constant undisclosed lower body injuries kept him from playing.
I've had a lot of injuries these past two years, and I haven't been able to play baseball as much as I'd like. I've suffered repeated lower body injuries and this year I even had surgery, so I've had fewer opportunities to play than in my first year.
I joined the professional league knowing it would be tough, but it's actually even tougher than I imagined. Seeing my teammates working so hard in practice and games made me feel frustrated. This year in particular, I learned a lot about how to use my body, the core strength and range of motion that I lacked and I realized the importance of building a body that won't get injured.
Even though I wasn't able to play in games very often, I'm still impressed by fans who wore my uniform and carried my merchandise to support me. I'm truly grateful to everyone who has supported me for the past two years. Thank you so much.
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P Takeru Sasaki
Sasaki was a Shakaijin second round pick in the 2020 draft. A left handed pitcher who mostly ate up innings in 2022, he had a promising 2023 to build off of.
However, a Tommy John surgery all but ended his career, skipping the 2024 season and when he returned in 2025 from an ikusei contract, he was not the same, only appearing in 15 games.
Time has all gone by so quickly, but these past six years have been incredibly fulfilling, with many different experiences. Despite being drafted straight out of the corporate leagues as an immediate asset, I still had many shortcomings in terms of technique, and I worked hard to become a full-fledged professional baseball player, including during my time in rehab.
That's why I'm so disappointed that things have turned out this way. I've been supported by so many people over these past six years. Even during my rehabilitation, many people, including players on the first team, sent me messages and spoke to me when we met, making me strongly feel that there were people watching out for me.
In particular, pitching coach Kiyoshi Toyoda helped me find a place on the ichi-gun and gave me many opportunities to play. He was also concerned about me during my rehabilitation, so I feel both grateful and apologetic for not being able to live up to his expectations.
And to all the fans, I am truly grateful. Since the home bullpen at Belluna Dome is close to the left field stands, I could feel your cheers up close. For me, it was the best sound in the world. I was truly happy to hear those cheers on the mound. Looking back, I think that having that moment in my life was the greatest happiness of all. I was able to continue through this long rehabilitation period thanks to the support of all of you. Your encouragement fueled my goal of standing on that mound again and supported my efforts to return. Thank you so much for these past six years.
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P Minato Aoyama
Aoyama was a fourth round draft pick out of college in 2022. Then-manager Kazuo Matsui has full confidence in him that he made his debut on Opening Day in 2023 as a closer in a save situation for the 9th inning, where he blew it leading to an eventual loss as former Lion Tomoya Mori hit a tying home run.
His ultimate highlight was recording a complete game shutout in 2024 as a spot starter against the Orix Buffaloes. It was his only career win and it was the first by a Lion to record a first win by shutout since Kazuhisa Makita in 2011.
He remained on shaky ground in spite of Matsui sticking with him as a closer until he couldn't. When Fumiya Nishiguchi took over as manager, he fell out of favor and appeared in only four games combined from 2025-2026.
During my first two years with the team, I was given many opportunities to pitch despite not knowing much and I was able to experience various roles such as starter and reliever.
On the other hand, things didn't go well in the last two years and I regret that I wasn't able to produce results that would allow me to establish my role. My fastball velocity dropped due to fatigue and it was difficult to regain. Conversely, I sometimes lost control because I was trying too hard to increase my velocity, which created a vicious cycle.
This year, I was called up to the first team's training camp and was given a chance to pitch with the first team in May, but I wasn't able to seize that opportunity. I was in good condition during the summer and was able to pitch throughout the year without injury, which was good, but I regret that I couldn't translate that into results.
I will never forget the cheers of the fans when I got my first save and when I achieved my first professional win with a shutout. I regret that I wasn't able to perform well enough to hear those cheers many more times, but the support of the fans remains strongly in my heart. These four years have flown by, but thank you so much for all your support.
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OF Tokumasa Chano
Chano came over in 2026 through the Active Player draft as the Orix Buffaloes designated him for this. He was primarily a pinch runner this past season, but fell out of favor by the second half.
When my transfer to the Lions was decided, I wondered what kind of environment it would be, but the players and staff all welcomed me warmly.
Everyone spoke to me kindly from the very beginning and I was truly grateful. Although it was only a short year, it was a very good experience. Including my time with the Orix Buffaloes, the most memorable moment for me was the opening game where I was given a starting position. That's where my professional baseball career began.
To all the Lions fans, thank you so much for all your support during this short one year.
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OF Yudai Furukawa
Furukawa was a second round draft pick out of high school in 2022. Thought to be an athlete with potential, it never surfaced. He appeared in five ichi-gun games in late September recording one hit and multiple walks.
Injuries to his back and more restricted his 2026 season to only 10 ni-gun games.
Over the past four years, I regret that I was unable to establish my own playing style and played with uncertainty. I kept searching for what kind of player I should become.
This year in particular, I thought I had a decent start in spring training, but then I got injured and had to leave. Even after returning, my condition didn't improve and I couldn't produce results. It was a difficult year as I felt like I couldn't do anything.
Watching others with the ichi-gun, I felt frustrated and jealous that I wasn't there and couldn't be a valuable asset. On the other hand, experiencing the atmosphere of the first team last year was a great experience for me. The day I first made it to the first team and the day I got my first hit are my fondest memories. After my first hit, I received so many congratulatory messages from my teammates and friends from my hometown that I couldn't reply to them all, and I was truly happy.
Those two days made me strongly determined to keep working hard.
To the fans, I am sorry that I couldn't be a valuable asset to the Lions. Thank you for all your support.
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With the seven designations of not returning as Sasaki was on an ikusei contract, this freed up six roster spots. Adding Emmanuel Ramirez, Allan Winans and a retired Takumi Kuriyama means nine slots total would be open.
Five of those roster spots need to be used on the draft picks they selected while there could be more senryokugai ahead if necessary. They already announced Joseph Sinclair and Koichi Okumura being let go as ikusei.
It's possible to bring back any of these players under an ikusei contract if they feel someone is worth keeping for rehab. In recent years, the Lions have used ikusei to expand the roster to give final chances to both underperforming and injured players under rehabilitation. Furukawa and Lin could be candidates given the injuries in 2026.
However, we also need to remember this regime has only been in office since 2024. As with any front office changing in sports, they have less attachment to players they inherited or didn't draft wanting their own personnel.
We wish all of these the best of luck whether it's at the tryouts or other future endeavors.
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Multiple Lions to get work in Puerto Rico
The Lions also announced that pitchers Haruse Narita, Keishin Saito and OF Yuta Nakami will play in the Puerto Rican winter leagues for development and having reps over the offseason.
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