2026 Seibu Lions Digest: Farewell to Kuriyama

 

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The Saitama Seibu Lions had a strong August at 16-8-0 while holding a 69-49-3 record. With this month concluded, they sit in second place, five games behind the SoftBank Hawks in the Pacific League Pennant race. 

In what was an eventful month, here are some highlights and takeaways from August 2026:

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Kuriyama's farewell ceremony and final game remained emotional

Kuriyama is all but Mr. Lion for playing his entire career with the team since being drafted in 2001, but didn't appear in his first ichi-gun game until September 2004. 

As shown on a TV graphic from the broadcast, he is the franchise leader in hits (2,152), doubles (406), sacrifice flys (75), walks (1,052), plate appearances (9,072) and at-bats (7,761).  He's also second in games played (2,322), behind Tsutomu Ito and third in RBIs (914) behind Kazuhiro Kiyohawa and Takeya Nakamura.  

Batting 6th in the lineup for his final game on August 30, he went 0-3 through six innings with some near hits. It took a home run by Shinya Hasegawa to be overturned on replay to secure one last plate appearance for Kuriyama in the bottom of the 8th inning.

With the crowd not starting his ouenka, Kuriyama took the first pitch off Katsutoshi Tai to centerfield on a grounder, giving him 2,152 career hits, all in a Lions uniform. He was then subbed off for pinch runner Taiga Hirasawa to leave the field one last time during a game.  

The ceremony itself featured a beautiful video of Kuriyama speaking about his career, inspiration and ambitions growing up in Kansai, where the Orix Braves/Blue Wave impacted him going to their games. 

There was also fellow comrades giving bouquets and other memorabilia to praise Kuriyama before he gave a speech. Former 2008 Japan Series Champion Lions Takayuki Kishi (who started the game as an opponent for the Eagles), Ginjiro Sumitani, Yasuyuki Kataoka, Hiroyuki Nakajima and Takeya Nakamura all came. Seibu chairman Takashi Goto and former Major League pitcher Hideo Nomo, who he worked with in offseasons under the same trainer, also said something in support.  

Crazy enough, he has a scare midweek as he was struck on the helmet in ni-gun by a dangerous pitch, but the Lions statement said everything would happen on 8/30 as scheduled.  

Several outlets from a candy company to Crazy Ken Band (the artist of his walkup song) and even Meiji Jingu Stadium congratulated Kuriyama on a long successful career. 

We bid a farewell to the captain and legendary Kuriyama for all he's done as a Lion.   

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The Lions weathered the storm

Injuries became a theme for the position players.  An-Ko Lin, Seiya Watanabe, Masayuki Kuwahara, Natsuo Takizawa and Shinya Hasegawa were out for a significant portion of time, with all 5 of them gone at once. Yet all of them returned for the final series in August to sweep the Eagles and the team still secured a winning record.

Someone else ended up stepping things up in their place from Alexander Canario, Taiga Hirasawa, Sosuke Genda and of course, the starting pitchers carrying this team. 

In spite of a July that took a tumble, they rebounded well without half of their starting position players.  Hasegawa returned and played like he didn't miss a beat after having a strong two months to begin 2026.  

What became even more interesting, is learning how the Lions drafted Takizawa and it came down to team and scouting information.  Then-GM Hisanobu "Nabe-Q" Watanabe never saw Takizawa in person during the scouting phase, as his scouts wanted to hide the team's intentions. 

According to reporter Daisuke Nakajima-san, the Hawks and Eagles were both interested, but their information said Takizawa, coming from a smaller high school from Niigata prefecture, had intentions to play at Asia University and refine his skills.  

The Lions had full confidence he would sign with them and has no issues taking him in the ikusei round. Nabe-Q was forced to stay in the shadows to hide the team's cards.  

Takizawa has shown great range, a younger version of Genda who can hit for average. It doesn't hurt he has versatility on the infield. 

A monkey really came off the back when the Lions won 7-4 in Tokyo Dome for their designated home game. They lost to the Hawks and Eagles in this venue earlier this year.

For the first time since 2018, the Lions are 20 games over .500.  

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Bullpen reinforcements have thrived 

Hiroshi Kaino may give up one base runner per game, but he's been mostly reliable as he reached 30 saves for the season after being thrust into the role last May. Trey Wingenter set a new NPB record with 20 consecutive holds and didn't allow a run in that stretch. 

While Wingenter wouldn't have a shutout season, he's been the constant for the 8th inning while Ryosuke Moriwaki returned from a lengthy injury multiple years ago. Hibiki Shinohara remains the future. 

Others who've contributed lately include the former starter Wataru Matsumoto, Taishu Mameda and Orix veteran Yuta Kuroki.  They've all had purposes and done well up to this point.  

The Lions have also been the best team in extra innings with an 8-5-3 record, which helps as the bullpen held more times than not 

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Lions starting pitching keeps on rolling

Kona Takahashi didn't read it up last outing, but Chihiro Sumida, Natsuki Takeuchi and Kaima Taira remain dominant in the rotation. Yutaro Watanabe has done a good job eating innings as well, where he would be a #3 pitcher on most teams.  Sou Sato even had to come in for spot starts and did hit part. 

Taira is a borderline Sawamura Award candidate who should be in the conversation, though he will likely come up short for several categories needed, behind Haruto Takahashi of the Hanshin Tigers.

It will be curious to see who spot starts in the few games remaining, where one six-game stretch goes from September 8-13 and two five game stretches go from September 19-23 and 25-29. 

But this is the unit everyone expected to be elite and they've continued to live up to the hype. Even when Kona Takahashi could walk in free agency, the Lions staff should be ready to go in the future. 

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Pending MLB lockout helped secure imports

For the second straight year, the Lions announced two foreigners signed extensions into next season. Trey Wingenter and Alexander Canario are both signed through 2027.

It's possible MLB teams may have noticed Wingenter with the run he was having, but MLB likely to lockout and have uncertainty for 2027 made this decision a no brainer to come back. 

Could this allow for Kona Takahashi to stay in Japan? Or even prevent someone else in NPB from being posted? 

Nevin was already signed through 2027 last year with a mid season extension in 2025. An-Ko Lin is signed through 2027 with a team option for 2028.

It appears with four Lions imports signed next year, they won't need to search as heavy as other teams for foreign players. 

Allan Winans may be the odd man out as he declined from his latest spot starts while Emmanuel Ramirez isn't needed for a loaded bullpen unit.  If the season ended today, there's little reason to bring them back.  

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Rookie Kojima already made an impact

Kojima earned his ouenka along with Hirasawa, but he's already growing as the season goes on. His swing rate at strikes vs balls has already improved and at one point, led the team in post-game hero inteviews with eight, a rather high number for a rookie. 

The Lions needed a bat and his trajectory is looking great for the present and future. Not only has his defense been solid, but he also pushed Yuto Koga to hit better and improve his game as well.  Both players will see the starting lineup with different catcher duties, but Kojima has been the DH just for his offense and being a threat.  

This may be the best case scenario for a first round draft pick.

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A-class is all but set, but September can't be complacent

It's pretty clear the Hawks, Lions and Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters are the A-class for the Pacific League as the Orix Buffaloes and Chiba Lotte Marines remain under .500 at the time of this writing. 

But the real twist in the new Climax Series forces another curveball. There are two scenarios that can lead to the SoftBank Hawks having a greater advantage in the Final Stage of the Climax Series.

If a Climax Series team is facing the Pennant winner while finishing the regular season either 10+ games behind in the standings or under .500 with a losing record, then the pennant winner will receive a two game advantage, the series goes up to seven played games and the lower placed team must win 5 games to advance to the Japan Series. The pennant winner would only need to win three games just like before.  

The previous format of a one-gane advantage for the pennant applies like normal for any team finishing within 10 games.  

With the Lions five games back, every game is going to count, as even the Fighters are currently eight game behind the Hawks. 

August was a helpful month for the Lions because they only saw the Hawks for three games, a home series they lost two out of three. They will have five head-to-head games against the Hawks in September, all in Fukuoka.  

The Lions have a competitive record against every Pacific League team, but the Hawks have destroyed the opposition since May 22.  Nobody, including the Lions, have had an answer for Yugo Maeda and other SoftBank players. 

What's the weird thing if the Lions face the Fighters in the first stage of the Climax Series, they currently have a 12-10 record, yet both sides have thrived playing as the away team.  This wouldn't be in the Lions favor playing the odds. 

It's going to be a challenge, but can anything happen? Sure.  What is clear, the Lions bats have been good enough to not be written off 100% while the pitching can keep them in games. This will likely be the first postseason for the Lions in four years.  

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2026 Seibu Lions Digest: A fall from Interleague

 

The Saitama Seibu Lions lost a series to the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks at home to close out the final games before the 2026 NPB All-Star break. 

With a 9-10-1 record in July and one more game against Orix on 7/31 pending, they sit in second place of the Pacific League 5.5 games behind the Hawks and only 1/2 game ahead of the Hokkaido-Nippon Ham Fighters.

Here's our observations and notable highlights of the team through the last six weeks as the All Star break begins:

The Lions are a mediocre team as a whole without the Interleague

They currently sit 53-40-3 at the All Star break, but taking away the Interleague dominance (14-3-1) over the Central League, their record falls to 39-37-2 against Pacific League opponents. 

Overall that record doesn't seem awful in perspective, but this is not some contending team we hoped for at the end of May. It's been very clear the Hawks and Fighters are head above shoulders in depth going forward and the Lions took advantage of early hiccups. Against those teams alone since June, the Lions are 5-9 with the trend going further South playing the Hawks.

A three game sweep in three different locations against the Rakuten Eagles didn't help either, as now they've become a tough opponent firing their manager and Masato Yoshii took over a squad who can play relaxed with nothing to lose.  

Are things better than last year? Yes, but they're not close to being a guaranteed winning squad going forward.

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Bullpen has avoided a major free fall, for now

The backbreaking 8-7 loss in Tokyo Dome to the Eagles is exactly what many feared was due to happen. They followed that up with a six game losing streak to enter July.  

Fortunately, in spite of all of this, there hasn't been a breaking point just yet for this bullpen.  Hiroshi Kaino is the best closer option going forward, as human as he is giving up a hit or walk nearly every outing.  Trey Wingenter has been excellent returning from his injury and Hibiki Shinohara has carried much of the setup role. 

The Lions will likely shut down Shinohara or limit his work for the rest of 2026 given his age and inexperience reaching a career high of 30 innings at one 19 years old, majority of them in high leverage situations. 

Next man up will need to happen and it did so against Eagles on 7/20 in a bullpen designed Monday game. What can Yuta Nakamura, Emmanuel Ramirez, Ryosuke Moriwaki, Masaya Kuroda and Taishi Mameda do as relievers? There's no guaranteed right answer when these pitchers are thrust in.

Hakua Iwaki is also back with the ichi-gun after the team demoted him from the closer role while also placing him in the farm.  The options are there, but can it hold up? 

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Injuries have taken their hits on offense 

Masayuki Kuwahara and Shinya Hasegawa are both out for a lengthy amount of time, likely not coming back until September if lucky. But the latter was a key surprise about to have a breakout season until his injury. 

The offense is being carried by Natsuo Takizawa and Tyler Nevin, where everyone else is best in a pinch or when playing a matchup. The opportunities opened up for a struggling Manaya Nishikawa, An-Ko Lin and even former first round pick Takuya Hiruma to seize their chances. Others like Junichiro Kishi are not meant to be everyday hitters.  

Aside from a rotational catcher position of Taiga Kojima and Yuto Koga being fine, majority of the remaining healthy players are too inconsistent to see as regulars.  

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Starting pitching remains strong, but how does it hold up?

There could be stamina questions for some pitchers going into the final 1/3 of the season as we're 96 games into the 143 played.  

They've seen spot starters or part time outings from Sou Sato, Shinya Sugai and Allan Winans hold their ground well, but is there a constant starting six man rotation? Not really.  

Chihiro Sumida, Natsuki Takeuchi, Kona Takahashi Kaima Taira and Yutaro Watanabe have seen the bulk load. However, Takeuchi and Sumida's last outings against the Hawks raise concerns.  

The blueprint is out there to work the starter and annoy him to build a higher pitch count as seen in several Taira outings.  Then the shaky bullpen can come in as early as the 6th for a pouncing.  

Feels like this team is hanging by a thread or fortunate to not sink further. 

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Possible roster cuts 

July is also the time to evaluate the roster and see who is vulnerable to being cut going forward. We will refrain from mentioning Ikusei players who are already at the bottom of the totem pole and must be released on transaction by default if they've spent three years or more with the team.

OF Takuya Hiruma: .286/.286/.543 in 14 games

Hiruma was buried for nearly his entire Lions career. A former first round draft pick, this may be now or never to prove his worth as he turns 26 in September.  His career high is 63 ichi-gun games played in 2023 and he could eclipse this if he earns it as Kuwahara and Hasegawa return from injury. By default, this may be the window of opportunity needed. 

While he has been fine in a 14 game sample size, this isn't enough to guarantee anything. Failing to crack last years lineup with only 12 ichi-gun games in 2025 warrants a target on his back.  

It's possible this season buys another year, but if he's not a regular starter by 2027, it's safe to call him a bust.  

IF Wataru Takamatsu: No games in 2026

Takamatsu came in as a mid season trade during the forgettable 2023 season. He mostly saw time as a pinch runner.  His role has been usurped by Tokumasa Chano and others on the roster that he's become expendable.  

IF Keisuke Nakata: .083/.083/.250 in 15 games

Nakata was a cheap pickup who saw a decent amount of playing time in 2025 as a reject of the Hawks.  His time has diminished since and others have taken his place on the ichi-gun roster.

C Shoya Makino: No games in 2026

Makino is a farm catcher at best. It's possible there is just no room for him going forward with the catcher position already crowded. 

P Kaito Yoza: No games in 2026

A long time submarine pitcher who saw plenty of starts and outings, he's only seen five games at the farm level.  As he turns 31 this September, is there uncertainty ahead? 

P Yuta Kuroki: No games in 2026

Kuroki was a long time Orix Buffaloes reliever and saw a decent amount of action in 2025 as a cheap signing by the Lions. With no games in 2026 as he turns 32, there doesn't look like room for him in the bullpen.  

P Ryota Itogawa: 6.17 ERA, 0-1 in 9 games

Itogawa saw a handful of outings this season, but nothing to warrant staying on the ichi-gun roster.  A late round shakaijin draft pick, at age 28, he doesn't have the upside that others have.  

P Minato Aoyama: 9.00 ERA in 2 games

Aoyama was a favored pitcher of Kazuo Matsui during his time as manager. He has since fallen out of favor within the Fumiya Nishiguchi era and hasn't taken the steps forward to earn playing time at age 26.   

P Wataru Matsumoto: No games in 2026

A long time rotational pitcher from 2019-2023 and former first round draft pick, the Lions switched him to reliever in 2024 and he hasn't recovered since.  Now he is struggling at the farm level and has no reason to play ichi-gun games in 2026. Has he lost his form for good? 

Foreign player Outlook 

Here we will look at all foreign players, ikusei excluded and see what could happen for 2027. 

Tyler Nevin: .271/.328/.556, 15 HRs in 57 games

Nevin is already under contract through the 2027 season having signed an extension before the 2025 season concluded. He didn't even play a game in March or April and already picked up where he left off.  It's a good thing they won't need to do contract negotiations this year. 

Trey Wingenter: 0.00 ERA, 0-0 in 16 games

Wingenter didn't play until June battling an injury like Nevin before him.  He's been the reinforcement the Lions have needed for the bullpen taking the 8th inning, not allowing an earned run up to this point, earning a hold in every outing.  

At this pace he should receive a contract offer for 2027, but does a Major League team notice him and give him an MLB contract? That's the issue. 

Emmanuel Ramirez: 6.00, 2-1 in 8 games

Ramirez spent most of the season off the roster being hurt. He earned his second year after mostly taking low leverage duties last season, seeing occasional moments this year.

However, his lack of health has hurt the team and others have taken his former place.  He was used as an opener on 7/20 for two innings and can still eat frames. Is it enough? Uncertain given his costs going up against his production.  

Allan Winans: 4.19 ERA, 2-3 in 7 games

Winans was looking like a steal when the Lions patiently waited to make his first start in May. After four strong starts, he followed up with a few forgettable ones and hasn't seen rotational action since, currently sitting off the roster as Ramirez and Lin hold the two import spots over him.  

It's possible he receives some spot starts to end the year, can he make the most of it? He's been on the unfortunate side of a foreign player roster logjam. It's very wait and see if he receives an offer for 2027. 

Alexander Canario: .246/.300/.363, 8 HR in 87 games

The former Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder has played some of the most games this season for the Lions. His defense and athleticism in the OF have been a standout while the offense has its flashes.  

If his statline stood around this pace, it's unclear if he gets an offer for 2027 if the Lions want more home runs and power hitting.  But being 26 for an import player is still young by foreigner standards and he still has upside.  There's a case both ways, but if he's still a starting player through the final 1/3, his chances only increase to stay. 

An-Ko Lin: .219/.288/.394, 6 HR in 52 games

Lin was given a fair chance prior to interleague play and it looked like he would remain buried for the rest of the year.  Like Hiruma, he's getting playing time now with no choice due to Kuwahara and Hasegawa out with injury. 

Since returning he had a flash to show off his power for a few games, but it hasn't been enough to warrant a guarantee for 2027.  He'll need to do more in August to take away a starting role from Hasegawa or Kuwahara.  

Bo Takahashi: No games in 2026

Unfortunately Bo Takahashi never panned out to be a regular at the ichi-gun level.  While eating plenty of innings from 2022-2023 as affordable cheap labor, he couldn't make the next step to take meaningful outings aside from spot starts.  The Lions released Bo on July 17.   We wish him the best of luck going forward. 

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Final outlook 

As of right now, nobody knows where this team is heading into the final 47 games of the year.  They've made progress, even won an interleague title and can pitch. But has the Pacific League adjusted to these antics from May? 

Getting into the postseason would still be an accomplishment when we had this team just being competitive for the second half. With this record and strong first half to be in first place for a stretch, they can't afford to repeat like 2015 and go on a historic losing streak to come up short. 

They're a crazy unpredictable team that can't be written off, but the battle remains uphill for the rest of the year.

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2026 Seibu Lions Digest: Strong May, Interleague leads to first place

 

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The Saitama Seibu Lions became the first team to 40 wins in 2026 as they sit on a record of 41-23-2 and currently hold a first place lead over the defending champion SoftBank Hawks by 3.5 games. 

Even better, they clinched the 2026 Interleague championship at Koshien Stadium with a 1-0 win over the Hanshin Tigers on June 16.  It was a very tight race as the Lions went 14-3-1 and both the Hawks and Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters were right behind at 14-4. 

What has led to this surge and signs of being a first place squad? Let's dive into our observations;

Tyler Nevin returned, even winning an award

Nevin returned right as the month of May started and he made an immediate impact on the first day. He took home the Pacific League position player of the month award for the second time in his career, where he also won it for May 2025.  

At nine home runs in May while also hitting for average, the patience by the Lions staff to let him heal at the beginning of the year is paying off. 

The offense has shown more power as a result, he's done his job as a cleanup hitter.  However, the offense has taken a tumble on the days he isn't in the lineup. What became vital was how Nevin helped fill an offensive void the moment Masayuki Kuwahara went down for multiple weeks to begin May. 

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Lions rotation remains as deep

Starting pitching has been the bread and butter of this team even in the awful 2024 season. It's possible this is the best unit we've seen in our fandom lifetime with Kaima Taira, Kona Takahashi, Chihiro Sumida and Natsuki Takeuchi carrying a majority of the rotation while others have stepped up when needed.   

Yutaro Watanabe has also established himself as a starter which created a great problem of who to begin a game.  Others like Shinya Sugai and Sou Sato have also contributed to this group with the latter filling in with the right matchup. 

This is a pitching group to be feared with several Major League candidates in the future.  It's a bonus the Lions are getting an extra year of Kona Takahashi when MLB teams rejected his services last offseason. He has earned international free agency rights if a team shows interest this time around. 

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Patience has paid off for Allan Winans, Trey Wingenter

Winans did not start an ichi-gun game until May 17, yet he's done an excellent job in four of his five starts up to this point to keep the team competitive in his outings. 

He won't be asked to do as much and is treated like a rotational starter as the bullpen can come in. Right now, the Lions look smart to keep him aside for the entire month of April.

Wingenter started the year with an injury and the bullpen took its hit, but he should be fine now with a conservative approach on waiting to bring him back.

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Breakout seasons bring optimism to a new group

Natsuo Takizawa and Shinya Hasegawa have taken leaps forward into helping revive a Lions offense that was below average for six years.  Hasegawa will likely lead the team in home runs behind Nevin while Takizawa has shown to a smart light hitting infielder that the team has envisioned. Both were former Ikusei draft picks.  

Others like Taiga Kojima will push Yuto Koga to perform with the bat as both guys split catching and hitting time. On occasion, one will DH for a game just to add some offense. For a first round rookie, Kojima is doing an excellent job behind the plate and with his bat. Even Sena Tsuge is solid in a spell role behind both primary catchers. 

The big surprise early on was Taiga Hirasawa, a former Active Player draft claim who had a three week stretch from April to keep some offense in the Lions lineup.  

He has since cooled off and cannot be an everyday player, but it's good to know the Lions have a spell/part time option who can be useful on the infield. 

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Defense remains a strength, a trait from the past

The Lions have commonly had at least one defensive webgem every game whether that involves Seiya Watanabe, Takizawa or anyone else on the infield.  

They make the plays look easy, often saving a run or two.  But even pickoff moves by the Lions pitchers have made a difference and saved them in several instances. This always keep the team competitive even on the strange days. 

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Time is ticking for a few Lions

Takuya Hiruna, An-Ko Lin and possibly Takayoshi Yamamura can't find an everyday role when they had the opportunities in past seasons or this past spring.  Lin has mostly been overwhelmed by Japanese pitchers and with Alexander Canario being the better option with more athleticism, there's not much room for him unless there's injuries. 

Hasegawa's recent emergence also hurts his chances. This year could be a down season for Manaya Nishikawa, as his role has diminished up to this point. At one point a leadoff hitter, he's often batting last when starting or he has become a defensive replacement.  Nishikawa will still be given a longer leash than the others. 

Yamamura's bat just hasn't cut it in past seasons and he may be just a defensive replacement moving forward.  But the largest disappoint would be Hiruma as a former first round pick. He has yet to see an ichi-gun game in 2026 and with others in front of him on the depth chart, it's safe to call him a bust in Year 4 as he turns 26 this September and his ceiling is caving in. 

Could this also be the end of veteran Shuta Tonosaki? He only has nine ichi-gun games and younger players have taken over. At least Sosuke Genda still sees the field as a defensive replacement and part time starter. 

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Hiroshi Kaino is also paying off

Kaino wasn't the first free agent compensation choice by the Lions when Hotaka Yamakawa walked in free agency.  Tsuyoshi Wada was available and the Lions tried to cash in on his presence. 

However, after some dust settled, Kaino was the more practical option for on the field performance without the marketing/asset money.  Now at 100 career Holds, he has majority of them in a Lions uniform over the last three seasons.  It's possible he could close games, but has already earned the high leverage innings in middle relief.  

The Lions have chosen the safe path of take the money and run when losing a free agent with compensation. Other times they've taken a player whom they think can fill an instant need. Hayato Takagi and Yaku Cho were past examples.  But it's safe to say Kaino is the Lions best player compensation selection since Ryota Wakiya. 

Meanwhile, Yamakawa was recently sent down to ni-gun in Chikugo for the Hawks.  

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Lions bullpen remains the elephant in the room

The most shaky unit of the bunch is the bullpen. In spite of not having awful numbers, they've found ways to keep it close or too dramatic.  

Rookie Hakua Iwaki was a bold call by manager Fumiya Nishiguchi to be the closer at the start of the year.  Overall, he's too wild to keep as a 9th inning pitcher.

Hibiki Shinohara is the most promising of the bunch, but still very young and raw at only 19 years old.  Ideally Wingenter and Kaino can be part of that back end with one of them closing, but who takes the middle relief if the starter only goes 5 innings? It's more uncertain.

Masaya Kuroda, Taishi Mameda, Sou Sato and Taiga Ueda remain unproven for a high leverage moment and likely show up when the options are thin. 

For now, we can conclude that Iwaki is not the closing answer for 2026 with how much he allows walks and hits, potentially being home run prone.

Could this until make or break the Lions for the second of the season? Absolutely.

Nishiguchi has given his starters the ace treatment with several complete games already for Sumida and Takahashi. Even in a 2-1 game in Fukuoka, Takahashi was forced to finish it himself in the 9th.

There could be theories to keep the bullpen fresh and not overwork anyone like Katsunori Hirai in 2019, but the performance has warranted some decisions to stretch the starter. 

In 2015, it was the collapse of Tomomi Takahashi that hurt the Lions for the season, even leading to a historic 13 game losing streak.

What happens here? 

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Pacific League competition became tight

The Fighters and Chiba Lotte Marines used interleague play to get hot, but fortunately not gain ground on the Lions in the process.  SoftBank predictably steamrolled the Central League to create this logjam at the top of the interleague standings.

Rakuten is the only PL team to be eliminated through interleague play as the Marines sit right at .500 at 31-31-2.  Did the Fighters figure out their pitching woes? Chiba started to hit better while the Orix Buffaloes took a small step back, but even they had a winning record at 9-8-1 against Central League opponents. 

The vibes alone say the Pacific League will win the Japan Series again this October, but who represent it? The door is wide open and there's no guarantees with the Lions bullpen situation.

SoftBank remains the favorite as they dealt with injuries in May and the Lions took advantage in the two-game series down in Fukuoka, but the signs say they'll go on a run into first place. 

Are the Lions ready to respond? We'll find out.

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2026 Seibu Lions Digest: Trending up?

 

Photo credit: @Ethics_Niki

The Saitama Seibu Lions sit at 19-17-1 through May 9 and are currently an A-class team being in third place. 

They're only trailing the SoftBank Hawks on percentage points at the time of this writing. 

We're here to check in on the season with notes and observations as the first 37 games have finished.

Taiga Hirasawa is killing it

If there was a team MVP up to this point, it's Taiga Hirasawa, who has seen an amazing run since being an ichi-gun player in 2026. With a near .400 batting average and an OPS of 1.300 when runners are on base, he's been invincible.  

This season alone, he has five 3-hit (modasho) games when he only had 3 total in his NPB career from 2016-2025.  There's no flashy power, though he hit a winning three-run home run in his last game, he's done everything the team has asked of him.  Can he keep it up?

Lions have battled well through injury

When Masayuki Kuwahara went down to a calf injury when running a base, the Lions offense was expected to take a hit. Instead, the offense has been a roll once Tyler Nevin returned to the starting lineup on May 1.  Nevin sat out for the entire month of April with an injury.

Trey Wingenter has yet to appear at the ichi-gun level in 2026 as he deals with his own injury. The outfield has suddenly stepped things up as Alexander Canario, Shinya Hasegawa and Seiya Watanabe have filled in well.  Manaya Nishikawa also had a slow start but has shown positive signs going forward.

Rotation has not missed Tatsuya Imai

As Imai is struggling with the Houston Astros, Kona Takahashi took it personal no MLB team showed interest in his services.  He's been leading the way while Chihiro Sumida and Kaima Taira have also been able to take the load. 

Shinya Sugai and Sou Sato have also provided solid starts while Natsuki Takeuchi can get better. 

Bullpen going through growing pains

One of the more bold calls of the season has been using a rookie in second-round draft pick Hakua Iwaki as the closer.  While he has looked shaky at times, he already has 10 saves in 13 games.

Hiroshi Kaino is back in a setup role while there are hopes Shunsuke Sato can rebound.  Hibiki Shinohara and Masaya Kuroda have looked promising in middle relief. 

This isn't a dominant group, which had forced manager Fumiya Nishiguchi to get more out of his starting pitchers if possible.  He's milked some guys as late as the 8th inning with the lack of confidence in a few pitchers.  Can it get better? Sure.

Catcher position remains balanced

The Lions no longer have an everyday starting catcher as Yuto Koga and first round draft pick Taiga Kojima split playing time. They've also used Sena Tsuge as a spell catcher.  

This balance is proving to be good offensively as nobody is established to have themselves in there for every game.  

Early returns not coming for Lin

Coming into this season, most felt either Canario or Lin needed to be good in order to compete offensively.  Canario doesn't do anything flashy, but he hasn't been overwhelmed at times like Lin. 

Lin's playing time for now has gone down as he still admits to NPB over CPBL. 

Can this continue?

May has been a tremendous month this far, especially on offense.  It's unclear what happens ahead, but this Lions team has reason for excitement when it feels like there's always a chance to win when the offense clicks. 

We wanted to let all readers know we're heading to Japan for the month of May on a lengthy vacation. We'll remain on X for all the fun detailed updates. 

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2026 Seibu Lions: What is this team?

The 2026 NPB season kicks off on Friday, March 27 as all teams will be playing.  For the Lions, the season begins in Chiba.

But what is there to make of the Saitama Seibu Lions? We'll take a dive into the roster and check in to see where things are going.  We apologize for a long drought without a post as things became busy outside of baseball.

Surprising gains with expected departures

Aside from a very obvious posting of Tatsuya Imai to the Houston Astros, the Lions didn't lose anyone significant. 

Instead, they made domestic free agent signings for the first time in 10 years, even having to give up a player as FA compensation.

Masayuki Kuwahara is a void the Lions have needed since 2020, where the outfield has been a weak point. Primarily in hitting, the team has shown failure to hit for average as a whole. 

He was a mainstay for the Yokohama DeNA Baystars and the Lions had to give up reserve catcher Takeru Furuichi for his services. With the recent logjam at catcher, there is no regrets if Furuichi becomes a better player with another team as Yuto Koga and Taiga Kojima would block any playing time.

Kazunari Ishii of the Fighters also signed with the Lions and because he was a Type C free agent, there was no extra compensation cost. 

From the Active Player (Rule 5 equivalent) draft, the Lions took OF Tokumasa Chano who was on the Orix Buffaloes.  Shota Hiranuma was eventually selected by Orix. Can only hope Chano becomes a depth piece.  

Foreigners mostly remain the same

In a successful 2025, the Lions retained three of their import signings in RP Trey Wingenter, RP Emmanuel Ramirez and 1B Tyler Nevin. Usually having three signings hit should lead to a Climax Series berth, if not being competitive enough for one.

Unfortunately, the Lions fell off by mid season after a strong first half.  Allan Winans comes in from North America as a starting pitcher candidate whole An-Ko Lin could be a starting outfielder, previously from Taiwan's CPBL.  

Other additions away from Ikusei include Alexander Canario, who last played 87 games with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2025. 

Pitching should remain strong

Even with Imai playing in Houston, the Lions rotation should be solid with Chihiro Sumida, Kona Takahashi (who did not receive a significant MLB offer), Yutaro Watanabe, Kaito Yoza and a rebound season from Natsuki Takeuchi.  

Bullpen wise, there are also plenty of options from Hiroshi Kaino, Haruto Yamada and a possible rebound season from Shunsuke Sato to join Wingenter as a bridge for Kaima Taira.  It wouldn't hurt if some draft picks also contributed out of the pen like Yuta Nakamura, who did find in mop up duty.  

Something to be said that Nishiguchi has made excellent pitching calls in his first season as skipper, being a former pitcher himself.  The depth and options should be there for the 2026 season. 

Among recent additions, Yamato Fuji earned a promotion to the 70-man roster from ikusei. 

What is offense?

The hitting has been an elephant in the room since 2020, a below average product (2022) to bottom of the barrel (2024).  When 2025 began, there was promise, but by the time the All Star break rolled around, the slumps couldn't end and it felt like they were back at Square One from the conclusion of 2024. 

There are players who can be good in spell or as fielders from Manaya Nishikawa, Natsuo Takizawa and Takayoshi Yamamura. However, the lack offense and especially power hitting is non-existent.  Tyler Nevin is not built to be a 30 HR player, Takeya Nakamura is old, while majority of the roster is meant to be light hitters.  

Even the veterans Shuta Tonosaki and Sosuke Genda are seeing less playing time, which makes the latter performing well at the WBC even more puzzling. Seiya Watanabe showed promise, but the Lions need Kojima, their first round pick to produce sooner than later if he's built to be an everyday hitter.  

Others like Takuya Hiruma are likely declared as busts.  

This regime has taken a different approach

The Lions reputation has remained dark for players. Many choose to find greener pastures, whether it's in money or the work culture or even unseen work conditions that often led to past free agents wanting to sign with other teams.

What's notable for this regime is being more proactive in taking flyers, signing extra ikusei and of course, both Ishii and Kuwahara as free agent signings.  

Led by Koji Hiroike, the unseen collective making the baseball decisions feels less passive than before. Both Wingenter and Nevin were signed to contract extensions in the middle of the 2025 season instead of waiting for an offseason discussion with the agents.  

The jury will be out on these draft picks, but at least in transactions the vibes feel much more aggressive in wanting to win than what we saw under Haruhiko Suzuki and Nabe-Q.  

The only constant has been giving draft picks who've failed to produce extra years with the team through ikusei.  Some given multiple years before they're truly cut and removed from any player roster.  

The final season for a legend

Takumi Kuriyama made it known this would be his final playing season.  In what should be a retirement farewell tour, the Lions all-time hits leader can hopefully go out with some good sentimental moments.  He'll likely pinch hit on occasion until his final retirement ceremony game in September. 

Something to give credit is that the Lions management didn't play him much in the last few years to let someone else get an opportunity.  

The competition and outlook

This appears to be a other uphill battle of the Lions want to be an A-class team. The SoftBank Hawks are likely to return to their dynasty ways.  Fighters are going to compete directly with them for the pennant and what was a dramatic climax series. 

The last four spots remain open with teams of uncertainty, but the Orix Buffaloes have the inside track based on proven pitching and talent alone. They're still flawed offensively.  

The Chiba Lotte Marines are going through a new manager after a disaster 2025.  Are they rebuilding or trying to go retooling? Much remains uncertain.

Lastly, the Rakuten Eagles remain a flawed organization with some veterans who are likely passed their prime.  A handful of intriguing draft picks and players, but it's a problem for them to get over any hump, as the owner calls too many shots.  

There's enough case for third place, but a lot needs to go right for the Lions to get there.  The other three teams can underachieve while the Lions offense just needs to be middle of the road.  It doesn't need to be elite like 2018-2019, but it can't be an automatic zero like 2024.  

Time will tell, but if this season has a regression like 2024, staff and heads may be rolling again like it did for Kazuo Matsui.  

Can the rookies and recent draft picks since 2023 make an impact? Will the logjam of uncertain outfielders find some everyday players instead of part time? 

Even with the pitching regression expected, can others retain their greatness from 2025?

We'll all find out in a few months. 

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Seibu Lions announce postings of Imai and Takahashi

 

The Saitama Seibu Lions As expected, the Lions planned to post RHP Kona Takahashi and it was formally announced on November 5. They also announced Tatsuya Imai will be posted on November 10.  

No posting dates have been scheduled for either player to begin the negotiating window.  

Here was the formal statement on Takahashi from GM Koji Hiroike:

"He came as a first round draft pick and has pitched well since his first year. He may not have been completely satisfied with his performance over the last two years, but we have always recognized his outings and have decided to respect that and will allow him to take on his (next challenges in MLB).  

He is a pitcher who can be trusted to pitch several innings and is solid. We wish he could keep playing for the Lions next year and beyond. However, given his precious desire to be posted, we have decided that this year is the right time for him to get that opportunity abroad."

The Lions were backed into this as Takahashi reached domestic free agency with seven full years of service time this season.

Here was the released statement from Takahashi himself: 

"I'm trying grateful to the team for supporting me and glas they respected my wishes. I'll do my best so that I can be sure this decision was the right one. This has always been a dream of mine and I'm grateful for this opportunity."

Takahashi looks to be a mid rotation starter at best for MLB. 

In bigger news with Imai, the Lions ace will also be posted as the team wrote a formal statement from Koike:

"We have decided that now is the time to take on the challenge of MLB. He has consistently expressed a strong desire to play baseball in America and we have taken the step of respecting that wish. 

We hope he will demonstrate his energy and success in America. Imai has made significant contributions to the team in recent years, So although his departure will have an impact on our roster, we will continue to focus on the development of our young players and strengthen our team structure."

Here was Imai's formal statement:

I'm grateful that my request was accepted. I'm incredibly grateful that they took a lot of time and consideration into their decision after many discussions and a long time.

Every year, I've aimed to win the league and become the best in Japan, and that feeling remains the same even though I've changed teams. I'm determined to win, and I'll do my best to pitch to help the team.

Imai, 27, was one of only four pitchers in the Pacific League with an ERA under 2.00 while being dominant as the team's ace. He's versatile enough to keep opposing players off balance with several pitches and also maintaining control. 

He came off his third consecutive season with at least 10 wins, but last year was his strongest with five complete games and three shutouts. 

So far, he will be one of the top pitchers on the market for MLB coming over from NPB.  

Lions 2026 staff announced

The Saitama Seibu Lions announced their coaching staff for 2026 at the conclusion of the 2025 regular season.  

Here is the full list and we'll more some of the changes from 2025:

Ichi-gun staff

Manager: #74 Fumiya Nishuguchi

Head coach: #91 Yusuke Torigoe

Chief pitching coach: #81 Kiyoshi Toyoda

Pitching coach: #95 Tatsuya Oishi

Battery coach: #96 Shota Nakata

Chief Fielding and Batting coach: #78 Toshihisa Nishi

Batting coach: #83 Yoshiie Tachibana

Infield defense and Base running coach: #87 Satoshi Kuroda

Outfield defense and Base running coach: #84 Masato Kumashiro

Ni-gun staff

Farm manager: #79 Tatsuya Ozeki

Chief pitching coach: #72 Yoshihiro Doi

Farm pitching coach: #98 Tomio Watanabe

Farm pitching coach: #93 Hayato Aoki

Farm pitching coach: #85 Daiki Enokida

Chief Fielding coach: #77 Ryutaro Tsuji

Fielding coach: #82 Kosuke Noda

Fielding coach: #86 Shogo Akada

Fielding coach: #88 Hiroyuki Oshima

Fielding coach: #80 Keiji Obiki

San-gun staff

Chief coach: #97 Tomoshi Aoki

Fielding coach: #76 Norio Tanabe 

Fielding coach: #94 Yuji Onizaki

Fielding coach: #89 Fumikazu Kimura

Fielding coach: #92 Masatoshi Okada

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There were no dismissals or removals from the 2025 coaching staff.  A few changes of switching Obiki to ni-gun while Kuroda takes the ichi-gun position. 

Tsuji was also promoted to a leading farm coach position meaning he'll have more responsibilities. Finally, Masatoshi Okada is on the ikusei level staff as a coach, where he retired from playing at the conclusion of 2024. 

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More players let go

When the draft concluded, the Lions let go of 3 more players with IF Daiju Nomura, P Ichiro Tamura and IF Hiyu Motoyama as senryokugai.   Excluding ikusei, this means the Lions have removed 11 players from the 70 man roster with two more outgoing with Kona Takahashi and Imai.  

The roster currently has 65 ichi-gun players at the time of this writing, factoring in foreigners who are already retained and draft picks who will be signed. 

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2025 NPB Draft: A summary of every Lions pick

 

The Saitama Seibu Lions and the other 11 NPB teams took their players at the draft on Thursday night.  

Here, we will summarize the information we can find on all draft picks by the Lions, Ikusei included. 

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Round 1: C Taiga Kojima 小島大河

College: Meiji (Tokyo)

High School: Tokaidai Sagami (Kanagawa) 

Date of Birth: October 27, 2003

Height: 178 cm (5' 10")

Weight: 83 kg (183 lbs)

Throws/Bats: Right/Left

Kojima was a mainstay at Meiji and the Tokyo Big 6.  His pop speed as a catcher is 1.8 seconds throwing to second base, but his bat is why the Lions took him in the first round. On paper, it's thought he can hit for both average and power to improve a weakened offense. 

With the collegiate Samurai Japan team, he was primarily the designated hitter, which could be a role if the Lions want to play Yuto Koga at catcher.  

At one point in his career, he was an infielder at 2B and SS, but has been a catcher since his sophomore season. He bills primarily as a contact hitter.  

Kojima should be playing on Day 1 if his bat lives up to the hype.  Projected as a constant .300 hitter who can also hit for pop, he has a similar skill to Tomoya Mori, who was thought to not have a position. With no doubt, he was considered the best college catcher in this class and the Lions won his rights without opposition.

Team quote: "He is a good hitter with impressive bat control."

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Round 2: P Hakua Iwaki 岩城颯空

College: Chuo (Tokyo)

High School: Toyama Shogyo (Toyama)

Date of Birth: September 17, 2003

Height: 181 cm (5' 11")

Weight: 95 kg (209 lbs)

Throws/Bats: Left/Left

Iwaki is a LHP who can throw as fast as 152 km/H (94 mph). He's primarily known for his fastball, slider and cutter. Was mostly a reliever in college, he worked on becoming a starter in his senior year.  Iwaki's biggest strength is his control, having few walks. 

For 2026, he could enter the Lions bullpen, though it is fierce competition.  

Team Quote: "He is an attractive pitcher with a strong fastball to induce strikeouts. He'll be effective as both a starter and relieved."

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Round 3: OF Shun Akiyama 秋山俊

College: Chukyo (Aichi)

High School: Sendai Ikuei (Miyagi)

Date of Birth: April 20, 2003

Height: 180 cm (5' 11")

Weight: 88 kg (194 lbs)

Throws/Bats: Right/Left

Akiyama could be a power hitter as he was the home run leader in the 2023 Spring season while an RBI leader for the 2024 Autumn season. In addition to outfield, he can also play 3B and has won a Best IX award while being an infielder.  Akiyama was also the leading hitter for the college Samurai Japan team during the US collegiate tournament.  

He can run 50 meters in 6.1 seconds while his time to first base is about 4.2 seconds.  It's also notable he can hit opposite field to slide a ball the other way.  

Defensively, he may be a hole in the outfield, but the Lions clearly drafted him for his bat.  With how the Lions offense was, there is a chance he could crack the starting outfield or at worst be a pinch hitter. 

Team Quote: "He can hit the ball with a wide range and has good bat control with power."

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Round 4: P Keita Horikoshi 堀越啓太

College: Tohoku Fukushi (Miyagi)

High School: Hanasaki Tokuharu (Saitama)

Date of Birth: July 15, 2003

Height: 185 cm (6' 1")

Weight: 96 kg (212 lbs)

Throws/Bats: Right/Right

A native of Saitama, Horikoshi had the unofficially fastest velocity at 164 km/H (102 mph). His fastest official pitch was 157 km/h (98 mph).  He also has a dropping slider and curveball, but his drawback was control issues. 

As a true power pitcher, his workload will likely be as a relief pitcher, which he mostly did throughout college.  

Team Quote: "A pitcher with a big scale who can hold batters with powerful pitches. He can be a foundation for the team in the future."

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Round 5: IF Sowa Yokota 横田蒼和

High School: Yamamura Gakuin (Saitama)

Date of Birth: October 24, 2007

Height: 180 cm (5' 11")

Weight: 87 kg (192 lbs)

Throws/Bats: Right/Left

A two-way player who can pitch and play shortstop, the Lions too Yokota as an infielder. In measurements, he can run to first base in 4.4 seconds and had solid defense. His maximum pitching velocity is 140 km/h. 

Down the road, he could develop into a slugger with decent power hitting, but also stealing bases.  A possible heir to Sosuke Genda. 

Team Quote: "He's a strong player who can hit the ball far. There is hope he can be a future infielder."

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Round 6: OF Yushin Kawada 川田悠慎

Industrial League Team: Shikoku Bank (Kochi)

College: Kyoto Sangyo (Kyoto)

High School: Kochi (Kochi) 

Date of Birth: August 25, 2000

Height: 174 cm (5' 9")

Weight: 70 kg (154 lbs)

Throws/Bats: Right/Left

Kawada is the oldest person in this draft class as he turns 26 next year.  Very little is known of him as he couldn't make a name for himself at the high school or collegiate level, but thrived more with the Shakaijin leagues.  

This is a longshot lottery ticket for a draft pick, much like Teruki Koga was last season. In addition to the outfield, Kawada can also play 2B and SS. Ideally he makes the ichi-gun as a replacement player or pinch runner. 

Team Quote: "He is a fast utility player who can play a variety of positions."

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Ikusei Draft

Round 1: IF Yuito Arai 新井唯斗

High School: Hachioji Gakuin (Tokyo)

Date of Birth: November 11, 2007

Height: 183 cm (6' 0")

Weight: 80 kg (176 lbs)

Throws/Bats: Right/Left

Arai is a Tokorozawa native who has athletic abilities.  From a 50 meter dash time of 6.0 seconds and a long throw of 100 meters, he has the physical tools to be a baseball player. 

Originally an outfielder, he converted to shortstop. A very raw player who will need time to develop. 

Team quote: "He is a large infielder with a good balance of running, hitting and defense with room to grow, making him a highly anticipated player from Tokorozawa."

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Round 2: IF Takumu Imaoka 今岡拓夢

High School: Kamimura Gakuin (Kagoshima)

Date of Birth: September 5, 2007

Height: 180 cm (5' 11")

Weight: 81 kg (179 lbs)

Throws/Bats: Right/Right

Imaoka played for Samurai Japan at the High school level as he can play shortstop. He has potential to be a power hitter down the road.  

In measurements, he can reach first base in 4.4 seconds, run a 50 meter dash in 6.3 seconds and have a long throw of 90 meters. The Lions see a powerful swing that needs time to develop.

Team quote: "He is a large and athletic shortstop."

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Round 3: P Keishin Saito 斎藤佳紳

Independent League Team: Tokushima Indigo Socks (Tokushima)

College: Tenri (Nara), dropped out

High School: Kinkidai Gakusen (Osaka) 

Date of Birth: March 16, 2003

Height: 181 cm (5' 11")

Weight: 89 kg (196 lbs)

Throws/Bats: Right/Left

Saito is a power pitcher who can throw up to 156 km/h (97 mph). A college dropout who went straight to the independent Shikoku island League, he was both a starter and relieved excelling with power.

He can also throw a slider, fork and curveball. Like the other ikusei, he's working for a promotion. 

Team Quote: "He is a pitcher known for his aggressive and spirited power pitching."

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Round 4: P Sota Hamaoka 浜岡蒼太

High School: Kawawa (Kanagawa) 

Date of Birth: October 10, 2007

Height: 176 cm (5' 9")

Weight: 87 kg (192 lbs)

Throws/Bats: Left/Left

Hamaoka was once scouted by MLB scouts saying he has potential. His maximum velocity is 147 km/h (91 mph). In spite of going to a prestigious high school for education, he has had a baseball goal in mind. Hamaoka comes from a athletic minded family with parents and a sister involved with sports. 

When facing batters, his strength is using deception with timing.  He can also throw a slider, changeup and cutter.  

Team Quote: "Although he is a high school student, he has pitcher known for a decent fastball and curveball."

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Round 5: P Hiroto Hiraguchi 平口寛人

College: Nihon Keizai (Fukuoka)

High School: Aikodai Meiden (Aichi) 

Date of Birth: April 15, 2003

Height: 179 cm (5' 10")

Weight: 82 kg (181 lbs)

Throws/Bats: Left/Left

A left-handed pitcher who lacks velocity as his max speed is 140 km/h (87 mph).  He makes up for his weakness with control and breaking balls from a cutter to a slider. In college, he was both a reliever and starter. 

Team Quote: "He is a left handed pitcher with good control which allows him to throw to both sides."

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Round 6: P Yuma Masaki 正木悠馬

College: Jochi/Sophia (Tokyo)

High School: Redmond (Washington State, USA)

Date of Birth: November 19, 2002

Height: 179 cm (5' 10")

Weight: 83 kg (183 lbs)

Throws/Bats: Right/Left

His top velocity is 153 km/h (95 mph) where he drew attention in the Division III tier of college baseball.  He can throw a fastball, forkball, slider and curveball. 

Masaki's slider can draw comparisons to Tatsuya Imai and Kaima Taira.  Aside from playing in a lower league, control was an issue on the scouting reports. 

Masaki remains a classic underdog story.  He spent a portion of his childhood in the USA, including high school.  What makes this really interesting trivially, is he lived in Dutch Harbor, Alaska due to his father working as a fisherman. 

Team Quote: "He is a highly promising pitcher with a style uses gravity of his entire body."

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Round 7: OF Ginto Ando 安藤銀杜

Independent Team: Tokushima Indigo Socks (Tokushima)

College: Josai (Chiba)

High School: Kyoei (Aichi) 

Date of Birth: February 4, 2003

Height: 198 cm (6' 6")

Weight: 110 kg (243 lbs)

Throws/Bats: Right/Right

Ando has the size and frame for an athlete where he was a pitcher who could hit 152 km/h. However, his control is why teams held back and the Lions see him as a position player. 

He remains a longshot, much like all the other ikusei taken. 

Team Quote: "He has outstanding physical abilities and is a promising player who has the potential to become a central figure on the team in the future."

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Summary

The Lions took an approach which netted players who can help immediately with a bunch of lottery tickets on the backside.  Ideally the first four draft picks could make their debut in 2026 while the others develop. 

They're hoping the offense can have a spark with Kojima and Akiyama in the fold, but also had a conservative pitcher in Iwaki taken. There is upside for Horikoshi if his control can be fixed. 

We will review Lions draft classes of the past throughout this offseason. 

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