Hanshin Tigers reliever Daichi Ishii set a Nippon Professional Baseball record on 17 August by extending his run of consecutive scoreless appearances to 40 games. The 28-year-old right-hander entered the eighth inning against the Yomiuri Giants at Tokyo Dome and retired the side without allowing a run, surpassing the previous mark of 39 set by Seibu Lions pitcher Kaima Hirai in 2021. Ishii, a 2021 eighth-round draft pick who reached the professional ranks via the independent Shikoku Island League, has become an anchor of Hanshin’s bullpen. His reliability has helped the Tigers maintain their lead in the Central League; Saturday’s 3–1 victory over the Giants preserved the club’s position at the top of the standings. The record underscores the depth of a pitching staff that carried Hanshin to a championship last season and has again been the foundation of the team’s success. Ishii’s streak will remain in the spotlight as the Tigers push toward the postseason, with the reliever now targeting a full season without allowing an earned run.