Hiroshima Carp take Asia University infielder Takara Yamasato with first draft pick
In short
Hiroshima Toyo Carp chose Asia University infielder Takara Yamasato (山里宝) in the first round of the pro baseball draft held in Tokyo on 22 October. Manager Takahiro Arai (新井貴浩) visited the university that night, and Yamasato said he wants to contribute from his first year.
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Hiroshima Toyo Carp chose Asia University infielder Takara Yamasato (山里宝) in the first round of the pro baseball draft held in Tokyo on 22 October, TBS NEWS DIG reported. Nippon TV News quoted the announcement, "Hiroshima Toyo. First-round nominated player, Yamasato Takara, Asia University," and described the pick as a sole nomination. TBS said the draft took place at the Shin-Takanawa Prince Hotel and gave Yamasato's age as 21. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
TBS NEWS DIG described Yamasato as an infielder who mainly plays shortstop and second base and who is proud of his defence, built on a strong arm and high baseball IQ. It said he is listed at 174 cm and 78 kg, has a punchy, clutch bat, and was picked for the university Japan national team for the first time in June. Its headline quoted the scout in charge as saying he overlaps with Kikuchi of 15 years ago. Nippon TV called him the top shortstop at university level, with 10 career league home runs and a strong arm and defence, and a candidate to contribute immediately. [ 1 , 2 ]
Nippon TV said Kosono (小園) and Yano (矢野) have left the club and that Yamasato is expected to help in the middle infield. [ 2 ]
After the draft, manager Takahiro Arai (新井貴浩), 49, visited Asia University's Musashino campus in Tokyo on the night of 22 October to deliver the nomination greeting. NHK reported that Yamasato said he wants to be ready to contribute from his first year. TBS quoted him as saying he wants to be aggressive from year one, and quoted Arai as saying his strong competitive mentality is one of his good points. A TBS headline quoted Arai as saying he wants Yamasato to become a player who leads the infield. [ 3 , 4 , 5 ]
Nippon TV later reported that Hiroshima drafted five university players as registered players, with Yamasato at the top. Its headline quoted a description of him as an infielder who can be a core of the team. [ 6 ]
Why it matters
Nippon TV said Kosono (小園) and Yano (矢野) have left the club and presented Yamasato as an expected middle-infield option. The documents give no information on whether he has signed.
Key facts
- Hiroshima picked Asia University infielder Takara Yamasato in the first round of the draft held in Tokyo on 22 October. [ 1 , 2 ]
- TBS NEWS DIG said Yamasato mainly plays shortstop and second base, is listed at 174 cm and 78 kg, and was picked for the university national team for the first time in June. [ 1 ]
- Nippon TV said Yamasato has 10 career league home runs and called him a candidate to contribute immediately. [ 2 ]
- The draft was held at the Shin-Takanawa Prince Hotel on 22 October; TBS gave Yamasato's age as 21. [ 3 ]
- Manager Takahiro Arai, 49, visited Asia University's Musashino campus in Tokyo on the night of 22 October to greet Yamasato. [ 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- Yamasato told NHK he wants to be ready to contribute from his first year. [ 4 ]
- Hiroshima drafted five university players as registered (shihaika) players, according to Nippon TV. [ 6 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Hiroshima Toyo Carp chose Asia University infielder Takara Yamasato in the first round of the 22 October draft. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Manager Takahiro Arai visited Yamasato on the night of 22 October to deliver the nomination greeting. [ 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- Yamasato said he wants to contribute from his first year. [ 3 , 4 ]
Still unclear
- Whether Yamasato has agreed to terms with Hiroshima. The documents describe only the right to negotiate with him and give no contract details.
- Who the other four university players drafted by Hiroshima are. Nippon TV's summary gives the number of players but the available text does not name them.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- TBS NEWS DIG reports that Hiroshima picked Yamasato in the first round. [ 1 ]
- Nippon TV News reports the first-round pick, citing the draft announcement. [ 2 ]
- TBS NEWS DIG reports that Arai visited Asia University after the draft and spoke of his expectations for Yamasato. [ 3 ]
- NHK reports that Yamasato received Arai's nomination greeting on the night of 22 October. [ 4 ]
- TBS NEWS DIG publishes a report on Arai's visit to Asia University's Musashino campus. [ 5 ]
- Nippon TV News reports that Hiroshima drafted five university players as registered players. [ 6 ]