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The 2018 Saitama Seibu Lions draft class is three years in. With plenty of hype around high school projects, the Lions went with the top college arm. Here is a review:
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First round: P Wataru Matsumoto (Nittai University, Tokyo)
The Lions were the only team to take a college player in opening part of the first round for the draft. All 11 other teams had opposition to their picks while the Lions scooped one of the top pitchers available for the short term. After a month in ni-gun, Matsumoto already made some flashes at the ichi-gun with a 7-4 record in 85.1 innings while having a 4.54 ERA.
Overall, he has developed nicely and projects as a front end starter. He can still be an ace. Grade: B+
Hindsight: The Tigers took Koji Chikamoto, Hawks took Hiroshi Kaino, several high school prospects still have intrigue and upside, but the Lions took a safe path here.
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Second round: P Yutaro Watanabe (Urawa Gakuin HS, Saitama)
Watanabe made his ichi-gun debut in 2021 and showed good promise as a starter. He was thought to be a first round draft pick if the Lions lost out on the rights to Matsumoto. The Lions have to like getting Watanabe to fall as an extra top pick, according to their draft board. Grade: A-
Hindsight: None (Lions were drafting at the end of this round)
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Third round: IF Kakeru Yamanobe (Mitsubishi Motors Okazaki, Aichi)
Yamanobe was hoping to continue the trend of a position player being taken in the third round in an even-numbered year as compared to his senpai (Hideto Asamura, Shogo Akiyama, Yuji Kaneko, Shuta Tonosaki, Sosuke Genda). This shakaijin failed to make an early impact in his first professional year with only one base hit in nine games.
He saw time at 3B and 2B, but could also go at SS if necessary. The Lions were hoping he could be insurance with the loss of Asamura in free agency. With his poor hitting, he's mostly a replacement player. Grade: D
Hindsight: Marines took Kazuya Ojima
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Fourth round: P Kaito Awatsu (Higashi Nihon Kokusai, Fukushima)
Awatsu was a college pitcher who was inspired to pitch in a similar manner to Tetsuya Shiozaki, who is currently working in the Lions front office. He was a regular reliever in ni-gun with a 4.56 ERA in 32 games. Awatsu made his ichi-gun debut in a game I attended against the Yomiuri Giants in garbage time, allowing two runs in two innings. It was his only career ichi-gun action up to this point.
He was unable to play another ichi-gun game as the Lions brought him back under an ikusei contract. Grade: D
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Fifth Round: C Shoya Makino (Yugakkankoto HS, Ishikawa)
Makino has never played an ichi-gun game and remains a longterm project. With Sena Tsuge taking a role, he could stay buried. Grade: None
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Sixth Round: P Ryosuke Moriwaki (Sega Sammy, Tokyo)
Moriwaki saw ichi-gun time in the first half of the 2019 as a reliever, but he couldn't hold his position as a 7th inning setup man. In an up and down year, he is most remembered for starting a bean war with the Orix Buffaloes as he hit a few batters. This includes a bases-loaded HBP which drew an Orix coach to make contact with him.
He was an important 7th inning setup man in 2020, but he couldn't repeat this in 2021. Getting a reliever in the 6th round is still good value
Grade: B
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Seventh round: IF Ryusei Sato (Fuji University, Iwate)
Sato was the only rookie to make the Opening Day roster and was at the ichi-gun for most of the season. He spent his first year on the bench, playing mostly 3B as a defensive replacement, but excelled when given the chance. Sato even had a few timely hits in his young career.
It all blew up when he was caught breaking team COVID rules by going golfing with Makoto Aiuchi and speeding as a driver. He lost his place and fell out of favor, prompting a trade with the Fighters which brought back an infielder and pitcher in return. The trade might bring depth, but Sato couldn't continue the success of Fuji University with the Lions Grade: D
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Ikusei 1: P Aoi Tono (Nikkei University, Fukuoka)
Tono lived up to the billing of an ikusei pick early on. However, a career-ending injury forced him to retire as he didn't fully recover from surgery. Grade: Incomplete
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Ikusei 2: P Jiyu Okubo (Hokkai HS, Hokkaido)
Okubo was picked for his size and possible upside regarding a high school pitcher. He was unable to earn a promotion as the Lions let him g after three years. Grade: Incomplete
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Ikusei 3: C Daichi Nakaguma (Tokuyama University, Yamaguchi)
Nakaguma was a surprise ikusei pick as the Lions took three players in this round of the draft. In an injury riddled 2019, he only appeared in 12 ni-gun games where then-coach Takanori Hoshi needed to be registered as an ikusei for emergency catching depth. Nakaguma was brought back under another ikusei contract. Grade: Incomplete
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Overall:
If you're hitting on your first two picks, the rest can be ignored and Moriwaki staying at the ichi-gun would bee a success in finding three regulars. Question is, does Matsumoto become an ace or just another rotational starter? Time will tell. Grade: B
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Other years:
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