Japan's pro baseball draft is held in Tokyo on Oct 22 as prospects await names
In short
Japan's professional baseball draft meeting is set for 5 p.m. on Oct 22 in Tokyo, according to Asahi Shimbun. Regional coverage from Iwate and Miyazaki profiles players who have filed to turn professional, including Nichinan Gakuen's Kosei Tanaka, who has survey forms from seven clubs.
Read the full story 2 min read
Japan's professional baseball draft meeting is to be held on Oct 22. Asahi Shimbun said it starts at 5 p.m. in Tokyo and will decide the fates of high school, university and corporate-league players who want to turn professional. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 ]
TBS NEWS DIG said that, besides Fuji University pitcher Kaito Tsunoda (角田楓斗), six other players tied to Iwate Prefecture have filed to turn professional. It named Asahi Tashiro (田代旭) of Tsukuba University, a Hanamaki Higashi High School graduate who captained the school and played at the spring Koshien, and who waits to be picked as a catcher who can hit. His high school teammate Yamato Ohara (小原大和) of Keio University was named to the best nine at designated hitter in the Tokyo Six Universities league and threw a no-hitter in the Sendai Six Universities league in his second year, TBS said. [ 1 ]
In Miyazaki, TBS NEWS DIG and Nippon TV both profiled Kosei Tanaka (田中皐晴) of Nichinan Gakuen High School. TBS said he hit above .500 in the summer prefectural tournament and had four hits in two games at Koshien. Nippon TV said he led the team to its first Koshien in eight years, and that seven pro clubs have sent him survey forms. Tanaka told Nippon TV his feelings were about half excitement and half anxiety, and that he wants to concentrate on batting. [ 2 , 3 ]
Nippon TV also profiled Eidai Takada (高田瑛大), a shortstop at Miyakonojo High School, who received survey forms from eight clubs. His main strengths, it said, are quick fielding and throwing and a 6.2-second 50-metre sprint, and scouts rate him highly. [ 3 ]
Asahi Shimbun said that when first-round picks overlap, lotteries have settled negotiating rights since 2008. From the second round, clubs pick in waiver order, which this year starts with the sixth-placed Pacific League club, then the sixth-placed Central League club. It said rookie contract money is capped at 100 million yen plus 50 million yen in incentives, and annual salary at 16 million yen. [ 5 ]
Among this year's candidates, Asahi Shimbun named Haruki Komoda (菰田陽生) of Yamanashi Gakuin, who is 195 cm tall, has 39 high school home runs and a top pitching speed of 152 km/h, and who intends to try hitting and pitching as a professional. It also named Aoyama Gakuin University's pitcher Taisei Suzuki (鈴木泰成) and catcher Kai Watabe (渡部海). NHK News published its own preview of notable high school players. [ 4 , 5 ]
Why it matters
The draft decides which club gets negotiating rights to high school, university and corporate-league players who want to turn professional. The documents are previews and profiles, and none reports results.
Key facts
- The professional baseball draft meeting is scheduled for Oct 22. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 ]
- Asahi Shimbun said the meeting starts at 5 p.m. in Tokyo. [ 5 ]
- TBS NEWS DIG said that, besides Fuji University pitcher Kaito Tsunoda (角田楓斗), six other players tied to Iwate Prefecture have filed to turn professional. [ 1 ]
- Nippon TV said seven pro clubs sent survey forms to Nichinan Gakuen's Kosei Tanaka (田中皐晴) and eight sent them to Miyakonojo High School shortstop Eidai Takada (高田瑛大). [ 3 ]
- Asahi Shimbun said first-round overlaps have been settled by lottery since 2008, and that rounds from the second on follow a waiver order. [ 5 ]
- Asahi Shimbun said rookie contract money is capped at 100 million yen plus 50 million yen in incentives, and annual salary at 16 million yen. [ 5 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- Which players will be picked, and by which clubs. All documents were published before the meeting and report no results.
- Whether Shoki Oda (織田翔希), who recorded 156 km/h at Koshien, will be in the draft. Asahi Shimbun said he has already announced an intention to challenge American baseball, but its text is cut off before saying whether he filed to turn professional.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- The draft meeting is scheduled to begin in Tokyo on Oct 22. [ 5 ]