Wednesday, January 22, 2020

Three Lions rookies to participate in A-camp


The Saitama Seibu Lions training camp begins on February 1, where all positions and coach will report on the same day. There are two camps to take place, with A-camp being for mostly ichi-gun players and B-camp for ni-gun.

Here are the full lists for both camps:

* Indicates rookie

# Indicates new import

A-Camp (Nichinan, Miyazaki): February 1-19

Rest days will be on 2/5, 2/10 and 2/15.

Pitchers (21): Tatsuya Imai, Kona Takahashi, Tatsushi Masuda, Tetsu Miyagawa*, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Wataru Matsumoto, Hiromasa Saito, Shota Hayama*, Katsunori Hirai, Kaito Awatsu, Ryosuke Moriwaki, Ryuya Ogawa, Reed Garrett#, Sho Ito, Kaito Yoza, Keisuke Honda, Sean Nolin#, Zach Neal, Tsubasa Kokuba, Makoto Aiuchi, Kaima Taira

Infielders (7): Hotaka Yamakawa, Kakeru Yamanobe, Shuta Tonosaki, Sosuke Genda, Ryusei Sato, Yuto Morikoshi, Ernesto Mejia

Outfielders (7): Takumi Kuriyama, Yuji Kaneko, Fumikazu Kimura, Cory Spangenberg#, Shohei Suzuki, "Aito" Takeda, Seiji Kawagoe

Catchers: (4): Tomoya Mori, Hitoto Komazuki, Masato Saito, Sena Tsuge*

When ichi-gun camp ends on 2/19, all players will be sent to B-camp to conclude spring training.

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B-Camp (Haruno, Kochi): February 1 - March 8

Rest days will be 2/5, 2/10, 2/15, 2/20, 2/25, 3/1, 3/6

The team will occupy a Tennis facility from  2/21-2/23

Pitchers (17): Ken Togame, Yutaro Watanabe, Shogo Noda, Tetsuya Utsumi, Daiki Enokida, Yasuo Sano, Ichiro Tamura, Hiroki Inoue*, Koki Matsuoka*, Shota Takekuma, Shunta Nakatsuka, Towa Uema*, Koki Fujita, Toshihiro Idei*, Tomomi Takahashi, Aoi Tono, Jiyu Okubo

Catchers (3): Shoya Makino, Masatoshi Okada, Daichi Nakaguma

Infielders (8): Daichi Mizuguchi, Kyohei Nagae, Nien Ting Wu, Manaya Nishikawa, Haruka Yamada, Ryota Kawano*, Takeya Nakamura, Ryusei Tsunashima

Outfielders (4): Masato Kumashiro, Daisuke Togawa, Junichiro Kishi*, Wataru Takagi

Utsumi and Nakamura are both rehabbing injuries. 

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Most of these lists are chalk, but there are a few surprises that are worth mentioning besides the rookies. A few B-camp players listed (Togame and Okada) likely don't need an evaluation and it gives Hatsuhiko Tsuji as well as the rest of the ichi-gun staff a closer look at a few individuals. Here's the few that stand out:

Kawagoe: A converted pitcher, this could be his last chance at relevance given he has yet to play an ichi-gun game. This is his second year at being an outfielder.

Tsuge: This decision among the rookies is more interesting given he was a shakaijin when drafted. You have to wonder if he can shoot up the depth chart in a short span given this opportunity. He could bump out Komazuki if he can hit.

Morikoshi: The recent domestic free agent signing from the Hanshin Tigers will be reunited with Tsuji, who was once his coach with the Chunichi Dragons. An A-camp emphasis tells that they have a plan for him, likely on the bench. Don't be surprised if he's a defensive substitute in late game situations.

Yoza: Coming off an injury and rehabbing, Yoza couldn't participate in a single game for his rookie year of 2018. He was under an ikusei contract for the entire 2019 season and made his first appearance in ni-gun late in the year. A submarine pitcher, Yoza is the most unique of the bunch and could try to find a bullpen role if he impresses the staff.

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