Lions announce players not returning for 2022

 

One of the hardest things to the end of any NPB season is saying farewell to many players as they're cleared out to make way for the new draft picks. 

The Lions announced their second wave of players who won't be offered a contract for 2022. This includes P Shunta Nakatsuka, C Hitoto Komazuki, P Hiromasa Saito, P Sho Ito, P Kaito Awatsu, IF Ryusei Tsunashima, P Mitsuo Yoshikawa and ikusei C Daichi Nakaguma. 

Earlier, the Lions announced P Daiki Enokida, P Ryuya Ogawa as well as ikusei pitchers Shinsaburo Tawata and Jiyu Okubo would not be returning. 

Nakatsuka was a second round draft pick in 2016. In his ichi-gun debut, he recorded two outs, but walked the next three batters without throwing a strike and was taken out unable to finish a game. He spent the entire 2021 season in ni-gun. 

Ito was a third round draft pick in 2017 out of the Shikoku Island League. He was used as a spot starter, but could never keep his role at the ichi-gun level. The Lions are expected to bring him back under an ikusei contract after he had Tommy John surgery.

Mitsuo Yoshikawa is remembered for mostly being a Fighters pitcher and the Lions brought him in under a low risk contract. He saw five appearances at the ichi-gun level in 2021 with no signs of promise. 

Saito was the Lions first round pick of 2017, yet despite recording a win as a long reliever, he couldn't keep his job at the ichi-gun as he'd be destroyed when pitching. At best, he could eat some innings, but failed to play an ichi-gun game in 2021. 

Awatsu saw one ichi-gun appearance in 2019 under mop up duty, but couldn't earn more as he stayed in ni-gun for the rest of his career. He was a fourth round draft pick in 2018. 

Komazuki was originally drafted as an outfielder in 2011, but made the switch to catcher after the 2015 season. He was an emergency third catcher at the ichi-gun gun level and recorded only one base hit in 2019. The Lions plan to keep him around the organization as a non-player. 

Nakaguma was an ikusei pick in 2018 and his initial three years of control gave expired. The Lions are likely to give him another ikusei contract in 2022. 

Enokida came to the Lions in 2018 as part of a trade with the Hanshin Tigers for Yosuke Okamoto and had his best career season as a rotation starter. This magic couldn't last in 2019 and his role kept diminishing as time went on. 

Ogawa came from the Chunichi Dragons in a midseason trade for 2018 as he became a situational reliever. However, his ichi-gun time plummeted down to five games in 2021. 

Tawata was once the wins leader in NPB for 2018 and remembered as a first round draft pick of the Lions I'm 2015. He had been on an ikusei contract since 2020 as health had been a problem. 

Okubo was an ikusei draft pick in 2018. His departure announcement was part of the first wave of senryokugai. 

In addition to Ito and Nakaguma, the Lions are expecting bring back Saito and Awatsu on ikusei contracts in 2022. 

We wish the best for these departing players in their next endeavors. 

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