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The 2026 NPB Draft came and passed through the week on October 22. Here is our summary of every draft pick by the Saitama Seibu Lions:
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Main draft:
Round 1: RHP Keito Kawajiri 川尻 啓人
College: Asia (Tokyo)
High School: Takaoka Shogyo (Toyama)
Date of Birth: October 24, 2004
Height: 189 cm (6' 2")
Weight: 94 kg (207 lbs)
Throws/Bats: Right/Left
In his senior season, Kawajiri took on a dual role as a starter and reliever at Asia University, making him ineligible for may qualifying pitching leader statistics. He recorded a 2.91 ERA this past year and made a total of 18 appearances at the college level.
Recently this month, he threw a no-hitter. What stood out about his size and athleticism was his recent weight gain of 20kg and tall stature. His top velocity is 158 km/h and can consistently throw north of 150 km/h deep into starts. Besides a fastball, Kawajiri can throw a slider, splitter and curve.
He could be inserted into the Lions rotation or bullpen depending on how they see fit, but his power pitching should be valuable both ways.
Team quote: "He is a big-framed pitcher who's primary asset is a fastball of being in the 150 km/h range."
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Round 2: RHP Seiya Kakimoto 柿本 晟弥
Industrial League Team: Panasonic (Osaka)
College: Toyo (Tokyo)
High School: Toyo Himeji (Hyogo)
Date of Birth: May 9, 2002
Height: 183 cm (6' 0")
Weight: 80 kg (176 lbs)
Throws/Bats: Right/Right
Kakimoto appeared in consecutive Intercity baseball tournaments within the Shakaijin baseball leagues during his two seasons with Panasonic. He drew notice his most recent year by contributing to his team making the finals in two starts.
He throws from the set position and can max out at 151 km/h with his fastball. Kakimoto can also throw a cutter, slider and forkball to go with a two-seam fastball. On paper, he has better control to be a rotation candidate for the Lions, but could do something at the ichi-gun right away.
Team Quote: "With a well-balanced pitching delivery, he has a sharp fastball in the mid-140 km/h range with a high caliber slider, cutter and split-finger fastball. He is an immediate impact pitcher capable of filling roles as either a starter or reliever."
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Round 3: LHP Yusuke Sawayama 沢山 優介
Industrial League Team: Yamaha (Shizuoka)
High School: Kakegawa Nishi (Shizuoka)
Date of Birth: October 15, 2003
Height: 187 cm (6' 2")
Weight: 90 kg (198 lbs)
Throws/Bats: Left/Left
"Enzo" Sawayama has mostly Brazilian blood, coming from a father who is half Japanese and half Brazilian. He represented Brazil at the 2026 World Baseball Classic, starting two of the games and not allowing a run in eight total innings against Italy and Great Britain.
He spent the last 5 seasons playing in the Shakaijin leagues with Yamaha, meaning he was eligible for NPB as early as the 2024 draft. Playing mostly as a reserve through 2025, he earned meaningful innings in 2026 during the latest Intercity tournament.
Sawayama uses an overhand delivery with a higher release point. His max velocity is 151 km/h while he can also throw a changeup, split-finger fastball, curveball, fork and slider. Sawayama is dependent on his fastball while mixing in his off speed and breaking ball pitches for a rhythm.
He can throw a long toss distance of 95 meters and has a 50 meter dash time of 6.5 seconds.
For the Lions, he could be a candidate for any pitching role.
Trivially, he idolized fellow Shizuoka native and former Baystars pitcher Sota Iketani, who recently retired after spending a few years in ni-gun.
Team Quote: "He is a genuine LHP with an aggressive, spirited deliver. He racks up strikeouts using his forkball and changeup."
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Round 4: C Ryo Tanaka 田中諒
High School: Nichidai Sanko (Tokyo)
Date of Birth: November 6, 2008
Height: 180 cm (5' 11")
Weight: 105 kg (231 lbs)
Throws/Bats: Right/Right
Tanaka is the only person who grew up in a heavy urbanized setting from this class being from Chuo Ward prior to high school. A cleanup hitter who also batted 3rd in the lineup, Tanaka could also play first base and outfield if necessary.
He appeared in Koshien as the power hitter during his junior season. Tanaka's entire high school career totaled 30 home runs.
His long toss distance is 95 meters while his 50 meter dash time clocked in at 6.8 seconds. He can reach first base in 4.7 seconds as a right handed hitter.
He had potential to develop his game going to University, but the Lions view him to be a slugger down the road.
Team Quote: "He is a powerful right-handed hitter, distinguished by his high bat speed and launch angle characteristics of a long ball hitter. We have high expectations for him as a catcher who can also hit."
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Round 5: OF Yamato Nakatsu 中津大和
Industrial League Team: Nippon Life (Osaka)
College: Hosei (Tokyo)
High School: Komatsu Otani (Ishikawa)
Date of Birth: October 2, 2002
Height: 178 cm (5' 10")
Weight: 80 kg (176 lbs)
Throws/Bats: Right/Left
Nakatsu had decent accolades in his senior season at Hosei University as a top hitter. He was the starting leadoff hitter for Nippon Life in both seasons within the Shakaijin leagues. A regular at centerfield, he has both power and speed traits that a leadoff hitter needs.
His speed to first base clocked in at 4.1 seconds he's also versatile enough to play shortstop if necessary.
With the Lions having a need for offense and help in the outfield, he will provide immediate competition. Whether he brings instant impact remains to be seen.
Team Quote: "He's an outfielder ready to contribute immediately. He features an aggressive style of play and excels in three specific areas: base running, hitting and fielding."
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Ikusei draft
Round 1: RHP Ryodai Miura 三浦遼大
Independent League Team: Ibaraki Astro Planets (Ibaraki)
High School: Aomori Yamada (Aomori)
Date of Birth: January 2, 2006
Height: 177 cm (5' 10")
Weight: 82 kg (181 lbs)
Throws/Bats: Right/Left
A two-way player out of high school, Miura's career shifted to pitching when he entered the Baseball Challenge League. He gained significant experience by his second season in 2025 as a starter and reliever.
For 2026, he focused to being exclusively a bullpen pitcher, recording five saves, 47 strikeouts and seven runs allowed in 32.1 innings of work, resulting in an 0.84 ERA. There was a stretch he pitched 27.1 consecutive innings without allowing an earned run.
Operating from the set position, Miura can hit a max velocity of 155 km/h and also throw a curveball, fork, cutter and slider. Mostly reliant on his fastball, he will need to work on his other pitches to earn a promotion.
Team Quote: "He is a pitcher with a youthful style and a compelling, powerful fastball."
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Round 2: RHP Keishin Kawashima 川島謙心
High School: Ryukokudai Heian (Kyoto)
Date of Birth: May 20, 2008
Height: 185 cm (6' 1")
Weight: 77 kg (170 lbs)
Throws/Bats: Right/Right
Kawashima received attention of NPB scouts during a Koshien qualifying game during his second season. In a relief appearance, he checked off the boxes by pitching for scoreless innings with two hits allowed and four strikeouts, hitting a top velocity of 148 km/h. He took the ace position in his senior season, but didn't qualify for Summer Koshien.
A native of Saga prefecture, Kawashima has a tall stature for his age and can reach as fast as 151 km/h for his fastball. Using a set position, he was fastball dependent when throwing. He can throw a long toss distance of 110 meters and recorded a 50 meter dash time of 6.2 seconds.
By being drafted, he will obtain his personal goal to play professional baseball out of high school if he signs with the Lions.
The Lions see an athlete they can mold into the right pitcher down the line, likely built for the bullpen.
Team Quote: "This pitcher possesses a high physical ability. His delivery, characterized by elasticity, produces fastballs and sliders that are both powerful and sharp."
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Round 3: C Koki Goto 後藤幸樹
High School: Numazu Shogyo (Shizuoka)
Date of Birth: May 9, 2008
Height: 181 cm (5' 11")
Weight: 87 kg (192 bs)
Throws/Bats: Right/Right
Goto drew attention from scouts for his 1.8 second pop speed as a catcher and his large frame size for his age. Batting second in the lineup, he had 16 HRs through his high school career. He can run a 50 meter dash in 5.9 seconds and reach first base in 4.4 seconds.
A long term project, Goto has the physical size to grow and develop as he begins his career as an Ikusei.
Team Quote: "He's a catcher with a strong arm and powerful bat, distinguished by his throwing abilities."
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Overall reaction:
The Lions went for immediate needs with three shakaijin players in what will be a short term class overall. Four out of five draft picks should be ichi-gun candidates right away for the rotation or bullpen while Nakatsu could win a starting job.
Otherwise, it's a very small class, with five being the fewest since 2014, matching the year Kona Takahashi and Shuta Tonosaki were taken.
This is also bracing for expected losses as Takahashi earned international free agency and Kaima Taira could be posted shortly. The rotation depth should still be fine, but may not match the dominant production of 2026.
Elsewhere, the SoftBank Hawks may have done the smartest move to select Genei Sato in the 9th round. Sato has MLB ambitions as he's at Penn State for the 2027 NCAA season, but if he goes undrafted next summer, this is a fallback option with no risk.
The craziest risk remains with the Yomiuri Giants and Shoki Oda out of Yokohama High School, who also has MLB intentions.
While we wait for the Lions player release list to come soon, they're currently at 69 players of a possible 70 as the retires Takumi Kuriyama is the only player officially off. They will need to take several off the 70 man roster as senryokugai 戦力外 not only for the five main draft picks, but also to leave room for Ikusei promotion.
It was already documented Emmanuel Ramirez and Allan Winans will not return in 2027, bringing the roster number down to 67.
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