The Saitama Seibu Lions and all 11 other NPB teams took part in the NPB Draft on October 17. Everyone felt they got better, removing some deadweight while picking up some fresh blood in the process. Here is a summary of each Lions draft pick:
P Tetsu Miyagawa (宮川 哲)
Industrial League Team: Toshiba (Kanagawa)
College: Jobu University (Gunma)
High School: Tokai Yamagata (Yamagata)
Date of Birth: October 10, 1995
Height: 177 cm (5' 9")
Weight: 83 kg (183 lbs)
Throws/Bats: Right/Right
Miyagawa was the top draft pick by the Lions after they lost the rights to Roki Sasaki. It was a contested pick when the Yomiuri Giants also chose to nominate him as their fallback option. Tatsunori Hara drew the blank ticket while Hatsuhiko Tsuji had the winning one.
A 24-year old shakaijin, Miyagawa is capable of playing in both the bullpen and starting rotation for the Lions in 2020. He did both roles at both the college and shakaijin levels of baseball.
He tops out at 154 kph (96 mph) and can throw a splitter, changeup and cutter in addition to his fastball. Conrol is above average while command is excellent. While this wasn't the top prize in the NPB Draft, the Lions should feel good about this if he helps immediately.
Team Quote: "Miyagawa has power in addition to pitching full of dynamics. He has sharpness in his changeup, so we expect him to have immediate action."
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P Shota Hamaya (浜屋 将太)
Industrial League Team: Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems (Kanagawa)
High School: Shonan (Kagoshima)
Date of Birth: January 26, 1999
Height: 175 cm (5' 9")
Weight: 77 kg (170 lbs)
Throws/Bats: Left/Left
Second round pick Hamaya will be 21 next year and he has a 3/4 arm slot delivery. His maximum velocity is around 148 kph (92 mph) and he can throw a curve, slider and changeup. While he appeared as a starter during his shakaijin years, his arsenal of pitches looks better to fit the bill of a reliever.
In some other fun high school trivia, he has two games of Koshien experience where he helped lead his school to the tournament. For his most recent season with Mitsubishi, he had 48 strikeouts in 43.2 innings of work and his combination of fastball and slider was his specialty. In the short term, he could be a left-handed specialist for the Lions ichi-gun.
Team quote: "Hamaya is a pitcher with a clear fastball and slider of about 145 kph from the 3/4 arm slot."
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P Koki Matsuoka (松岡 洸希)
Independent League Team: Saitama Musashi Heat Bears (Saitama)
High School: Saitama Okegawa Nishi (Saitama)
Date of Birth: August 31, 2000
Height: 180 cm (5' 11")
Weight: 81 kg (178 lbs)
Throws/Bats: Right/Right
Matsuoka spent only one season in the BC Challenge League while also being one-year removed from high school. In his only year, he recorded a 3.58 ERA in 27.2 innings of work in 32 games. He has also seen the Yomiuri Giants san-gun on occasion. At the high school level, he only took his school to the second round of the Saitama prefecture tournament as Hansaki Tokuharu has had a stranglehold on the area.
A side arm pitcher, he tops out at 149 kph (92 mph) while he can also throw a cutter, slider, fork, curve and two-seam fastball. Rakuten Eagles pitching coach Hiroshi Katayama guided him in switching to being a side armer.
While he only saw relief innings playing Indy ball, the Lions can do whatever they want with him given his age. There is flexibility both ways, though it's likely the team likes his chances as a reliever.
Team quote: "Matsuoka is a power pitcher throwing from the right side. His young age makes him attractive. His possibilities are endless."
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IF Ryota Kawano (川野 涼多)
High School: Kyushu Gakuin (Kumamoto)
Date of Birth: June 28, 2001
Height: 178 cm (5' 10")
Weight: 78 kg (172 lbs)
Throws/Bats: Right / Switch (Both)
Kawano was already a starting shortstop in his first year of high school and was even a leadoff hitter. His school never made the Koshien tournament, losing to current Yakult Swallows player Munetaka Murakami (Shugakukan HS) multiple times in the prefecture rounds.
Scouting reports say he is a good defender with decent speed and range, but not on the base paths. Comparisons to his HS senpai Hayato Mizowaki (Chunichi Dragons) say that Kawano is the better player. Originally, he was a right-handed player, but learned to do both once he entered high school.
The Lions have been set at the infield and took a flyer on a HS project, joining Ryusei Tsunashima and Manaya Nishikawa in the fold.
Team Quote: "Kawano is a switch-hitting infielder. He is well-balanced for batting, running and defending. He is especially stable at throwing balls. A promising player."
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C Sena Tsuge (柘植 世那)
Industrial League Team: Honda Suzuka (Mie)
High School: Kendai Takasaki (Gunma)
Date of Birth: June 3, 1997
Height: 174 cm (5' 8")
Weight: 83 kg (183 lbs)
Throws/Bats: Right / Right
Tsuge had a decent stretch in the shakaijin tournaments and was hitting around 3-5 in the lineup for Honda Suzuka. He also made an impression in high school during the Spring Koshien tournaments in HS with a pop speed of 1.88 seconds. Given he saw Shakaijin competition, he could compete for a backup catcher role immediately and be the heir to Masatoshi Okada.
Team Quote: "Tsuge is a player with good footwork, inside work, and defensive power."
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P Hiroki Inoue (井上 広輝)
High School: Nichidaisan (Tokyo)
Date of Birth: July 17, 2001
Height: 181 cm (5' 11")
Weight: 82 kg (181 lbs)
Throws / Bats: Right / Right
Inoue worked his way up the hierarchy in high school before being the team's ace in his last year while having Summer Koshien experience. Injuries prevented an even better high school career while sitting out of various tournaments.
He tops out at 152 kph (94 mph) while he can also throw both a sinker and changeup. His velocity is where the potential is, but will need time to develop. High school tape shows control struggles, which is expected of a young pitcher. It's likely the Lions see a starting pitcher in the long term.
Team quote: "Inoue throws a powerful fastball, has several pitches and good control. He is a type of a starter and promising pitcher."
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P Towa Uema (上間 永遠)
Independent League Team: Tokushima Indigo Socks (Tokushima)
High School: Yanagi Gaura (Oita)
Date of Birth: January 31, 2001
Height: 180 cm (5' 11")
Weight: 79 kg (174 lbs)
Throws / Bats: Right / Right
Uema was an ERA champion in his only season in the Shikoku Island League while making an instant impact. In 15 starts, he recorded a 1.40 ERA and 4-4 record in 70.2 innings with 64 strikeouts. In high school, he was thrown in as a starting pitcher after the original was injured. His school made it as far as the 5th round of the Oita prefecture tournament, but never qualified for Koshien.
He tops out at 148 kph (92 mph) and can throw a fastball, cutter, slider, curve and fork ball. His control is also decent. For the Lions, he could develop into a starter in the long run.
Team quote: "Uema is a pitcher with potential having a quality fastball."
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IF/OF Junichiro Kishi (岸 潤一郎)
Independent League Team: Tokushima Indigo Socks
High School: Meitoku Gijuku (Kochi)
College: Takushoku (Tokyo)
Date of Birth: December 8, 1996
Height: 175 cm (5' 9")
Weight: 78 kg (172 lbs)
Throws / Bats: Right / Right
Kishi had an unusual path to the Shikoku Island League. He was injured in University baseball and it was likely a career-derailing one, but he accepted an invitation to join the Tokushima Indigo Socks where he played with them. Kishi underwent Tommy John surgery in the process.
In two years with the Indigo Socks and a combined 133 games, he hit .271, 6 home runs and 73 stolen bases. He primarily played shortstop in Indy ball, but is capable of playing any position on the infield and outfield. When he came off Tommy John surgery, he was originally limited to first base.
The Lions outfield position has a void, but he will need to earn his way to win himself a job. He was the last player called in the main portion of the 2019 NPB Draft and the only 8th round draft pick. At minimum, he could be a pinch runner given the number of stolen bases he had in Tokushima.
In a fun twist of events, Kishi was a pitcher in high school and saw the eventual champions Osaka Toin in the 2012 Summer Koshien Tournament. Who was on that team? Seibu Lions catcher Tomoya Mori. You can see the clip below:
The Lions outfield position has a void, but he will need to earn his way to win himself a job. He was the last player called in the main portion of the 2019 NPB Draft and the only 8th round draft pick. At minimum, he could be a pinch runner given the number of stolen bases he had in Tokushima.
In a fun twist of events, Kishi was a pitcher in high school and saw the eventual champions Osaka Toin in the 2012 Summer Koshien Tournament. Who was on that team? Seibu Lions catcher Tomoya Mori. You can see the clip below:
— むーちゅん子🍨 (@okome_moku) October 17, 2019
Team quote: "Kishi is an attractive player who has fast legs and plays with speed."
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P Toshihiro Idei (出井 敏博)
College: Kanagawa (Kanagawa)
High School: Saitama Sakae (Saitama)
Date of Birth: April 29, 1997
Height: 185 cm (6' 1")
Weight: 70 kg (154 lbs)
Throws / Bats: Right / Right
There was very little information on Idei when reading on him. He was a relief pitcher in his last year of college and I could find that he was a Tochigi prefecture native. The game log found is too small of a sample size to even report or record.
From seeing his measurements, the tall and lanky pitcher will need to bulk up to earn a spot on the 70-man roster and the team hopes he can be a relief option in the future.
Team quote: "Idei has an authentic right-handed arm with flexible elbows and a future potential."
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Summary:
The Lions were unable to land Roki Sasaki, but they were able to take two players who could help immediately in 2020 with their first two draft picks. They also had some long term position players as well as some pitching projects for the future. There is is a decent mix to satisfy all fronts, but now becomes the time where everyone waits to see what this group is.
We took to Twitter what your thoughts were on this draft. Here were the results:
No matter what stats are thrown and data we have about these players, no one knows what this team got through the draft until 4-5 years from now. Until then, let's hope Miyagawa can help right away while others can work their way to the ichi-gun.
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Special thanks to our friend @Cape_Lions for helping with the translations.
Follow us on Twitter @GraveyardBall
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P Toshihiro Idei (出井 敏博)
College: Kanagawa (Kanagawa)
High School: Saitama Sakae (Saitama)
Date of Birth: April 29, 1997
Height: 185 cm (6' 1")
Weight: 70 kg (154 lbs)
Throws / Bats: Right / Right
There was very little information on Idei when reading on him. He was a relief pitcher in his last year of college and I could find that he was a Tochigi prefecture native. The game log found is too small of a sample size to even report or record.
From seeing his measurements, the tall and lanky pitcher will need to bulk up to earn a spot on the 70-man roster and the team hopes he can be a relief option in the future.
Team quote: "Idei has an authentic right-handed arm with flexible elbows and a future potential."
===
Summary:
The Lions were unable to land Roki Sasaki, but they were able to take two players who could help immediately in 2020 with their first two draft picks. They also had some long term position players as well as some pitching projects for the future. There is is a decent mix to satisfy all fronts, but now becomes the time where everyone waits to see what this group is.
We took to Twitter what your thoughts were on this draft. Here were the results:
How do you grade the #SeibuLions draft as a whole? #npbeng #埼玉西武ライオンズ— Graveyard Baseball (@GraveyardBall) October 18, 2019
Please translate @64Uni_Lions @imlanko @Cape_Lions @nerimamo
What do you think of the #seibuLions drafting Miyagawa? #npbeng #宮川哲— Graveyard Baseball (@GraveyardBall) October 17, 2019
Please translate @Cape_Lions @64Uni_Lions
No matter what stats are thrown and data we have about these players, no one knows what this team got through the draft until 4-5 years from now. Until then, let's hope Miyagawa can help right away while others can work their way to the ichi-gun.
===
Special thanks to our friend @Cape_Lions for helping with the translations.
Follow us on Twitter @GraveyardBall
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