Takahiro Fujioka was the most hyped up pitcher in this class. However, the Saitama Seibu Lions went a different path in 2011. Here's a review of the 2011 draft class:
First round: P Ken Togame (JR East, Tokyo)
The Lions went outside the box and took what was viewed as a fall-back first round pick in Togame. He was thought to be a sleeper among the field and he could help the Lions rotation immediately as a shakaijin.
Since being with the ichi-gun, Togame has been inconsistent where he has a good season in an odd numbered year, while regressing in an even numbered year. In 2017. he showed he belonged in the rotation going 8-7 with a 3.40 ERA and recording 116.1 innings pitched. Togame started 2017 in ni-gun and was initially called up as a sixth starter.
He had two seasons of at least 100 innings from 2018-2019, but an ERA above 4.40. Togame reached domestic free agency, but took an offer to stay with the Lions rather than test the market.
Togame bucked his trend by having two mediocre seasons, but he's shown that when he's on, he's shown to be a front end starter as he can be a decent No. 3 and borderline No. 2. Grade: C+
Hindsight: The Marines ended up with Fujioka and he hasn't been an ace. Shota Takeda was taken by the Softbank Hawks unopposed as was Yusuke Nomura by the Hiroshima Carp. Tomoyuki Sugano was about to be taken by the Giants, but the Fighters ended up winning his rights in a tossup. Like Chono before him, Sugano refused to sign with the Fighters.
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Second round: P Hirotaka Koishi (NTT East, Tokyo)
The Lions went with another shakaijin who had a unique release among left handed pitchers. Koishi has failed to make an impact at the ichi-gun level and is mostly a situational reliever to get a ground ball. He would also eat up low leverage innings in 2016 when the team was trailing. In his best season of 2016, he had a 3.74 ERA in 74.2 innings of work, which was a reflection of how bad that year was for the team.
His playing time at the ichi-gun diminished in 2018 and 2019, with a combined 41.2 innings, though he recorded a rare win in relief. After only eight games in 2019, he was cut at the end of the year as part of the senryokugai list.
Grade: D
Hindsight: Go Matsumoto was taken by the Fighters. Ryosuke Kikuchi was drafted by the Carp in this round (but likely before the Lions were there).
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Third round: OF Hitoto Komazuki (Tonan HS, Kyoto)
Komazuki was converted to being a catcher after the 2016 season. He became part of the Melbourne Aces in that winter to get work at his new position in practice.
In 2019, he became the emergency third catcher and with the injury to Masatoshi Okada, he was the second in line. He only appeared in seven ichi-gun games with one start at the end of the year while the others were in mop up duty. Komazuki recorded one hit which was an infield single. Grade: D-
Hindsight: IF Daichi Suzuki was taken by the Marines in this round. P Takaya Toda was drafted by the Carp. P Shinji Tajima was drafted by the Dragons.
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Fourth round: IF Kyohei Nagae (Kaisei HS, Nagasaki)
Nagae has been a solid defensive replacement for the late innings. An argument can be made that he's the best defensive infielder the Lions have and they can plant him at 3B or SS without trouble.
Unfortunately he lacks a bat as he usually hits below .200, but he has his role on the team for his defense. Since Hatsuhiko Tsuji took over the team for 2017, he hasn't seen more than 27 ichi-gun games in a single season while on the bench. Grade: C-
Hindsight: OF Takero Okajima was drafted by the Eagles in this round. P Naoya Masuda was drafted by the Marines. OF Masayuki Kuwahara was taken by the Baystars. C/OF Kensuke Kondo was drafted by the Fighters.
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Fifth round: OF Shotaro Tashiro (Hachinohe University, Aomori)
Tashiro only saw snippets of time as filler at the ichi-gun when a pitcher would be deactivated due to an extended break ahead. He served as an extra pinch runner and defensive replacement with solid range. Tsuji liked his defense and made Tashiro an opening day starter in 2017, but his lack of bat benched him quickly after a few weeks and he was prone to base running blunders.
The Lions cut him after the 2017 NPB Draft, well after the initial senryokugai list came. Hee is currently on the Yakult Swallows as a bench player, where he saw 73 games in 2018 and 51 in 2019. He has been productive in the Central League, but if only he had that with the Lions. Grade: F+
Hindsight: OF Tomo Otosaka was drafted by the Baystars. P Shinya Kayama was drafted by the Hawks and serves as a lefty specialist out of their bullpen.
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Ikusei: C Komei Fujisawa (Matsumoto University, Nagano)
Fujisawa was the first ikusei draft pick in franchise history in a program that only started in 2005. The Lions promoted Fujisawa to the 70-man roster in the middle of the 2013 season and has been a farm catcher ever since. He has not played a single ichi-gun game, but he splits time for ni-gun and could serve as a guy to develop the young pitchers in the farm.
Fujisawa also spent two offseasons in Melbourne with the Aces. With no upside and younger catchers taken, he was cut after the 2018 NPB Draft as part of the senryokugai. Grade: D
Hindsight: None
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Overall:
This class is mostly forgettable as a whole. While Togame hasn't been bad, he also isn't good. The Lions overall found a starting pitcher, defensive replacement, pinch runner, backup catcher and a reliever who can do mop up duties. There are contributions, but not enough impact for the long run. Komazuki is likely to not do anything besides be a depth catcher. Grade: D+
Hindsight: This draft was a win for the Carp, Baystars, Fighters and Hawks in particular where the Lions are right in the middle. The Carp found a starting pitcher and second baseman while the Hawks have a front end starter and relief help.
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Here are the poll results on Twitter:
#埼玉西武ライオンズ 2011ドラフトクラスの採点方法を教えてください?— Graveyard Baseball (@GraveyardBall) November 18, 2019
How do you grade the #SeibuLions 2011 Draft class?
Please RT and spread @Cape_Lions @64Uni_Lions #NPBeng #十亀剣#小石博孝#駒月仁人#永江恭平#田代将太郎#藤澤亨明
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Other classes:
2010
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
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