2021 NPB Draft: A summary of each Lions pick

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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:

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P Chihiro Sumida (隅田 知一郎)

College: Nippon Nishi Kogyo (Fukuoka)

High School: Nagasaki Hasami (Nagasaki)

Date of Birth: August 20, 1999

Height: 177 cm (5' 9")

Weight: 76 kg (168 lbs)

Throws/Bats: Left/Left

Sumida can top out at 150 km/h (93 mph) with a versatile arsenal of pitches including a cutter, slider, two-seamer, changeup and fork. He was the consensus best player available and the Lions won his rights in a four way drawing. 

Team quote: "The selling point is that there are various types of pitches as well as his fastball. He's pitcher who can be part of the starting rotation."

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P Shunsuke Sato (佐藤 隼輔)

College: Tsukuba (Ibaraki)

High School: Sendai (Miyagi)

Date of Birth: January 3, 2000

Height: 182 cm (6' 0")

Weight: 83 kg (183 lbs)

Throws/Bats: Left/Left

Sato has a max velocity of 152 km/h (94 mph) with the repertoire of a fastball, slider and changeup. He had one of the fastest pitches for a left-handed pitcher and was thought to be a fallback first round option, but fell to the early second round. Sato should be a rotation candidate.

Team quote: "Live left arm. He can be a starting player in the future."

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C Yuto Koga (古賀 悠斗)

College: Chuo (Tokyo)

High School: Fukuoka Ohori (Fukuoka)

Date of Birth: September 10, 1999

Height: 174 cm (5' 9")

Weight: 85 kg (187 lbs)

Throws/Bats: Right/Right

Koga has a pop speed of 1.9 seconds and can hit for both power and average. After playing as an infielder, he secured the catcher position in his sophomore year. With Masatoshi Okada as a pending free agent, he can compete for a backup role with Sena Tsuge.

Team quote: "A strong-shoulder catcher with hitting power. He can be a regular catcher in the future."

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P Shinnosuke Hada (羽田 慎之介)

High School: Hachioji Gakuen (Tokyo)

Date of Birth: December 25, 2003

Height: 191 cm (6' 3")

Weight: 85 kg (187 lbs)

Throws/Bats: Left/Left

Hada can top out at 149 km/h (93 mph) while able to throw a cutter, slider, curve, changeup and splitter. In his junior season, he caught notice of scouts with 39 strikeouts in 34 innings. An injury limited his senior year where he was a reliever. Born in Saitama prefecture, Hada also played for the Lions junior team in middle school. 

A 3/4 arm slot, Hada has drawn comparisons to Masaki Oyokawa of the Hanshin Tigers. Hada is a raw pitcher who lacks control, as his walk rate was also high. 

Team quote: "A large left arm full of ability from Lions Junior team. He's a player with potential and growth potential."

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P Masaya Kuroda (黒田 将矢)

High School: Hachinohe Kogyo (Aomori)

Date of Birth: January 24, 2004

Height: 188 cm (6' 2")

Weight: 78 kg (172 lbs)

Throws/Bats: Right/Right

Kuroda's top velocity is 149 km/h (93 mph) as he can throw a slider, curve and fork. He was a two-way player in high school where he also played outfield and was batting 5th in the lineup. As the school's ace, he carried his team to the Aomori prefectural finals before coming up just short of qualifying for summer Koshien. The Lions think he can develop into a hard throwing reliever. 

Team quote: "His main weapon is his angled fastball and fork that can be thrown downward from a taller pitcher. He can be a pitcher who can strike out batters in time."

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IF Seigo Nakayama (中山 誠吾)

College: Hakuoh (Tochigi)

High School: Seirantaito (Tochigi)

Date of Birth: May 9, 1999

Height: 190 cm (6' 3")

Weight: 99 kg (218 lbs)

Throws/Bats: Right/Left

Nakayama is an athletically gifted infielder who can play 1B, SS and 3B. He was the cleanup hitter since his sophomore year at Hakuoh University and had a strong autumn 2020 season for his senior year. Nakayama can be an infielder with power potential. 

Team quote: "An infielder with a large build. His aggressive hitting was attractive."

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Ikusei

C Takeru Furuichi (古市 尊)

Independent League Team: Tokushima Indigo Socks (Tokushima)

High School: Takamatsu Minami (Kagawa)

Date of Birth: June 15, 2002

Height: 178 cm (5' 10")

Weight: 70 kg (154 lbs)

Throws/Bats: Right/Right

Furuichi has a pop speed of 1.8 seconds and can also play outfield. He has physical tools to succeed at the next level, but specializes in base running. The Lions liked his throwing arm in particular. 

Team quote: "Outstanding shoulders and young age being attractive. We hope he can make an effort and level up as a catcher first."

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IF Natsuo Takizawa (滝澤 夏央)

High School: Sekine Gakuen (Niigata)

Date of Birth: August 13, 2003

Height: 167 cm (5' 6")

Weight: 64 kg (141 lbs)

Throws/Bats: Right/Left

Takizawa is a two-way player, but the Lions see him as an infielder who mostly played shortstop and also second base. He specializes in speed and defensive range and also hit for average by his senior year. 

Team quote: "He has a sense of speed in everything. He can become a defensive specialist." 

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P Shinya Sugai (菅井 信也)

High School: Yamamoto Gakuen (Yamagata)

Date of Birth: June 28, 2003

Height: 182 cm (6' 0")

Weight:  75 kg (165 lbs)

Throws/Bats: Left/Left

Sugai can hit 143 km/h (89 mph) with an arsenal of a slider, curve and changeup. He drew attention from scouts during a game in the Yamagata prefectural tournament where he had 10 consecutive strikeouts ad 17 total for the game. A tall and lanky pitcher, the Lions think his breaking balls and off speed pitches can draw whiffs. 

Team quote: "Impressive left arm. We liked him because he can strike out hitters with a slider. He needs to build his body first and work hard to be a starter in the future."

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OF Keishin Kawamura (川村 啓真)

College: Kokugakuin (Tokyo)

High School: Nihon Bunri (Niigata)

Date of Birth: September 6, 1999

Height: 173 cm (5' 8")

Weight: 83 kg (183 lbs)

Throws/Bats: Right/Left

Kawamura was the second hitter in the lineup an is a light hitting outfielder. He had a high batting average in his senior year and won multiple awards for his accomplishments. Kawamura will need to bulk up if he wants to make it to the ichi-gun. 

Team quote: "A power hitter with a well-balanced average."

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In closing

The Lions addressed their left-handed pitching depth while also taking several flyers in the ikusei round. Hitting is a short term concern, but they have faith in their recent draft picks to develop. 

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