Former Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks pitcher Kohei Arihara attended his signing press conference today, January 13th (Tuesday), at Escon Field Hokkaido. His uniform number has been decided as "74".
Making his return after six years since 2020, he said, "I'm happy to be able to play for the Fighters again, and I can't wait to play and aim for the championship," expressing his anticipation for the start of the season.

He joined the Fighters as the first overall pick in the 2014 draft. In 2016, he contributed to the team's league championship and Japan Series victory as a member of the starting rotation, and in the 2020 offseason, he transferred to the Texas Rangers using the posting system. "When I was with the team before, I was fearless and was largely led by my seniors. This time, the stadium has changed to Escon Field and the team feels new, so I want to step up and lead the team properly. I have a completely different mindset than last time," he said, expressing his renewed determination.

During his time with the Hawks until the 2025 season, he played a key role as a starting pitcher, winning the most wins title for two consecutive years. With the Fighters, he aims to be a part of the starting rotation, aiming to pitch at least 180 innings. "I want to be a reliable and solid anchor for the year. I believe I can still grow mentally, so I want to approach it with a fresh mindset," he said, expressing his enthusiasm.

Pitcher Arihara, who wanted to avoid any changes to the uniform numbers of the players currently on the team, also revealed his thoughts on the number "74" he chose. "I was offered various numbers, but I wanted to make a fresh start with a number that no one has ever worn before. I would be happy if you would support me as a new Kohei Arihara." He showed his determination to once again throw with strength in front of the Fighters fans.