Orix Turmoil: Lax Attitudes, a Gentle Manager, and Young Players Rebelling Against Their Captain

Windless Personnel Moves

Orix finished the regular season in 3rd place in the Pacific League and then lost to Nippon-Ham in the first stage of the Climax Series. Aiming to reclaim the championship, the club announced the coaching staff for next season on October 30, but the almost completely unchanged lineup has raised eyebrows within the organization.

“Twenty-four staff members—including coaches for the first team, second team, and development squad—were announced all at once, but the only new addition was 41-year-old Yoshihisa Hirano as a player–coach for pitchers. Hirano joined fall training on October 29 and commented, ‘Coaching and playing are so different. There’s a lot I had to think about.’

Hirano pitched only three first-team games this season, recording 1 loss, 1 save, and a 15.43 ERA. To be honest, considering the team’s situation, he was clearly not in the plan. However, manager Mamoru Kishida (44), who is from the same generation and has spent years beside him in the bullpen, surprisingly approved Hirano’s request to continue playing. Younger players have been whispering, ‘This is way too soft. We were sure he’d retire.’” (Team OB)

This season’s Orix coaching staff was already being mocked as a friends-only cabinet, since it was filled with people close in age to manager Kishida.

“What’s worse is that Kishida is extremely gentle. Orix’s position players lacked tension this year. The departure of former manager Satoshi Nakajima (56), the notorious demon sergeant who used to intimidate even the minor leaguers who feared his scoldings, made the players far too relaxed.

To make matters worse, Katsumi Mizumoto (57), who supported the team as first-team head coach during their three straight league titles from 2021, has been reassigned as a roving coach for the first and second teams. As a result, the first-team bench no longer has anyone who can deliver strict guidance. It’s easy to imagine an even looser atmosphere among the position players than this season.” (Same source)

This softness has even begun affecting the players themselves.

“Based on the disappointment of finishing fifth in 2024, Yuma Tongu (28) volunteered to serve as captain for the position players this year. But his gentle nature worked against him—he couldn’t discipline anyone or tighten up the team.

Among younger hitters, more and more are saying, ‘We want a new captain.’ Riding that momentum, a movement has emerged calling for the popular, charismatic Yuma Mune (29) to become the next captain. However, Mune himself says, ‘I’m not really the captain type.’ and is reluctant. The staff is aware of this unrest, but since everyone—including manager Kishida—is too nice, they aren’t sure how to intervene and haven’t taken concrete action.” (Team insider)

To strengthen the team, it seems crucial to balance kindness with strictness.