Previous post-draft reports (2015-22) here
The Hanshin Tigers won the pennant for the first time in 18 years, so this is the first time in ages that the draft takes place while the team is still playing meaningful baseball. Nevertheless, these are the rules, so on Thursday, manager Akinobu Okada made his way to Tokyo for the annual NPB Draft. Once again, he did not reveal his first pick ahead of time (as some managers are in the habit of doing), instead saying that hiding his decision until the end was part of the purpose of the draft. He did accidentally (or slyly?) indicate that because the team is still playing, he would not have time to go visit the first-round pick at his school, which is customary in Japan. Then he said, “It doesn’t matter though, because it’s Kansai. Oops!” Did that mean he was leaning towards picking someone local, or was it a detraction ploy??? (Answer below.)
The Tigers released eight players (including one development player) earlier this month: pitchers Akira Niho, Keisuke Kobayashi, Yuta Watanabe, and Atsushi Mochizuki, plus position players Yasuhiro Yamamoto, Shun Takayama, Fumiya Hojoh, and Yutaro Itayama. This means there are at least seven spots to fill… but of course, shuffling of contracts to/from the development level, foreign player signings, trades, and the active draft remain in the balance. Therefore, this is not the final bolstering of the lineup for next season by any means. Still, it was interesting to see how it all unfolded. Here is who we got…
Round 1 – Kaito Shimomura (下村 海翔)
From: Hyogo Prefecture
Date of Birth: March 27, 2002
Drafted Out of: Aoyama Gakuin University (Tokyo)
High School: Kyushu Kokusai Univ. High (Fukuoka)
Position: Pitcher
Height: 174 cm (5’9″)
Weight: 73 kg (161 lbs)
Throws/Bats: Right/Right
About Shimomura: Throws his fastball at a maximum of 155 km/h (96.3 mph), and has a slider, cutter, change-up, curve, and fork in his arsenal. Coming off elbow surgery. Is believed to have great control and stability, and should be able to put together good quality starts.
Shimomura’s Comments:
Round 2 – Tsuyoshi Shiiba (椎葉 剛)
From: Osaka Prefecture
Date of Birth: March 18, 2002
Drafted Out of: Tokushima Indigo Sox (Shikoku Island League Plus)
High School: Shimabara High (Nagasaki)
Position: Pitcher
Height: 182 cm (6’0″)
Weight: 92 kg (202 lbs)
Throws/Bats: Right/Right
About Shiiba: This strongly-built power pitcher’s fastball clocks in the upper-150 kms/h He has the ability to rack up strikeouts and be a reliever or closer.
Round 3 – Shuya Yamada (山田 脩也)
From: Miyagi Prefecture
Date of Birth: August 20, 2005
Drafted Out of: Sendai Ikuei High (Miyagi)
Position: Infielder
Height: 177 cm (5’10”)
Weight: 71 kg (156 lbs)
Throws/Bats: Right/Right
About Yamada: This right-handed infielder has great fielding and batting senses. His raw athletic ability is high, and he plays a speedy game. He has experience on both the national and international stages and could be the guy who leads the infield in the future.
Round 4 – Aoi Momosaki (百崎 蒼生)
From: Kumamoto Prefecture
Date of Birth: September 11, 2005
Drafted Out of: Tokai Univ Kumamoto Seisho High (Kumamoto)
Position: Infielder
Height: 178 cm (5’10”)
Weight: 77 kg (170 lbs)
Throws/Bats: Right/Right
About Momosaki: A good, strong, sure-handed righty. He has the potential to hit extra-base hits, as evidenced by his 39 career home runs in high school. He could be a strong five-tool leadoff man in the future.
Round 5 – Yuya Ishiguro (石黒 佑弥)
From: Aichi Prefecture
Date of Birth: June 20, 2001
Drafted Out of: JR Nishi Nihon (Hiroshima)
High School: Seijoh High (Aichi)
Position: Pitcher
Height: 180 cm (5’11”)
Weight: 83 kg (183 lbs)
Throws/Bats: Right/Right
About Ishiguro: His fastball comes in at over 150 km/h (93.2 mph). His form is good and his offspeed pitches have bite. He has a lot of potential to grow even more and has a bright future ahead of him.
Round 6 – Junya Tsuda (津田 淳哉)
From: Nara Prefecture
Date of Birth: August 27, 2001
Drafted Out of: Osaka Univ of Economics (Osaka)
High School: Takada Commercial High (Nara)
Position: Pitcher
Height: 178 cm (5’10”)
Weight: 83 kg (183 lbs)
Throws/Bats: Right/Right
About Tsuda: With a high arm slot, his 150 km/h+ (93.2 mph) fastball has a good angle on it. He is game-ready and is able to put together good starts by mixing in offspeed pitches. He could be part of the rotation in the future.
Development Draft Round 1 – Kai Matsubara (松原 快)
From: Toyama Prefecture
Date of Birth: August 24, 1999
Drafted Out of: Toyama GRN Thunderbirds (Nihonkai League)
High School: Koho High (Toyama)
Position: Pitcher
Height: 180 cm (5’11”)
Weight: 88 kg (194 lbs)
Throws/Bats: Right/Right
About Matsubara: He throws in the mid 150s from a three-quarter arm slot. He has good stamina and his pitches come in feeling faster than. thegun reads them at. He has mainly been used as a reliever and closer so far.
Development Draft Round 2 – Kein Fukushima (福島 圭音)
From: Saitama Prefecture
Date of Birth: October 6, 2001
Drafted Out of: Hakuoh Univ (Tochigi)
High School: Seibo Gakuen JHS & High (Saitama)
Position: Outfielder
Height: 171 cm (5’7″)
Weight: 72 kg (158 lbs)
Throws/Bats: Right/Left
About Fukushima: This outfielder has great raw athletic ability and boasts great speed and a strong arm. He plays hard and runs the 50-meter in under 6 seconds, while being able to long-toss 110 meters. He has plenty of room. togrow, and could be the team’s leadoff hitter of the future.
In all honesty, I know even less than what I wrote here about these guys. I have not watched any video on them (yet), but am excited that we got some good new young blood into the fold.
Welcome to Hanshin, young men! If you want to learn English, H-TEN’s at your service!