The 2025 NPB season is a little over a week old, and a pair of rookie players with a lot riding on their shoulders are off to fast starts.

Seibu Lions outfielder Seiya Watanabe has hit the ground running with a .407 average that ranks third among all NPB players. Watanabe had multihit performances in four of his first seven games, including going 3-for-3 in a win over the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks on Friday night.

¡°I¡¯ve got some confidence in this part of my game,¡± he told Nikkan Sports on Friday. ¡°There are around 140 games left, so I need to stay focused and keep improving.¡±