Daichi Osera Returns to the Carp First Team After Four Months as Veteran Right-Hander Eyes a Late-Season Comeback

The Hiroshima Carp have welcomed back a familiar face at a crucial point in the season.

Daichi Osera rejoined the first team on August 30, marking his return after nearly four months away from the top level. He was officially registered for the Yakult Swallows game at Mazda Stadium.

The 35-year-old right-hander is expected to work as a reliever, a role he has not regularly occupied in a decade.

Osera's 2026 season got off to a difficult start.

He made two starts for Hiroshima and went 0-2 with a 9.82 ERA. His second start, against the DeNA BayStars on May 4, ended particularly badly, as he allowed six runs in fewer than three innings.

He was subsequently removed from the first-team roster on May 5 and spent the following months working to regain his form in the farm system.

The turning point came when Osera changed his role.

Beginning in August, he started working as a reliever in the farm system. The move appeared to unlock his velocity, with his fastball repeatedly exceeding 150 km/h and reaching 153 km/h in his most recent outing.

More importantly, Osera has been consistently effective.

He recorded three consecutive scoreless relief appearances, pitching one inning in each game without allowing a run. That performance convinced the Carp that he was ready for another opportunity in the first team.

Osera himself sounded encouraged by the progress.

“I'm finally back. Everyone has kept our hopes of making the CS alive, so I want to contribute.”

The timing could hardly be more important.

Hiroshima is fighting to climb back into the Central League's playoff picture, with the team entering the final stretch of the regular season.

Osera's experience could be particularly valuable in a bullpen that needs reliable arms. He is the oldest pitcher on the Carp roster, and if his increased velocity carries over to the first team, he could provide something the team has been missing.

The move also represents a significant change for Osera personally.

A regular starter and one of Hiroshima's most established pitchers for much of his career, he is now being asked to embrace a completely different role.

If he can rediscover the power that has recently appeared in the farm system, the veteran could become an important late-season piece for the Carp.

For a team still chasing a postseason spot, Osera's comeback could be arriving at exactly the right time.