The Saitama Seibu Lions and all 11 other NPB teams took part in the NPB Draft on October 20. 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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OF Takuya Hiruma (蛭間 拓哉)
College: Waseda University (Tokyo)
High School: Urawa Gakuin (Saitama)
Date of Birth: September 8, 2000
Height: 177 cm (5' 9")
Weight: 87kg (192 lbs)
Throws/Bats: Left/Left
After the Lions made their intention to go for Hiruma, no one tried to contest this pick as they got him unopposed.
Hiruma was one of the most accomplished university sluggers in this year's class. A member of the U18 Samurai Japan, he showed the potential for base running speed, hitting for average and power. Some could argue he has enough to be a five-tool player where he doesn't have a major weakness in any category.
In 56 total games at university, he had a .276 batting average with 12 home runs and 34 RBIs in 50 starts. Hiruma was the cleanup hitter and can primarily play in Centerfield and Right Field. He can run to first base in about 4.2 seconds.
Before high school, he was a member of the Lions junior team. At Urawa Gakuin, he was teammates with Lions pitcher Yutaro Watanabe.
If everything goes right, he could be an instant impact player for a Lions team that's missing a key piece or core player in the outfield. They're hoping he can do it all.
Team quote: "He's an outfielder from the Lions junior team with a high level of offense and defense. With his power hitting and all-out play, we expect him to be a regular earlier than usual."
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OF Yudai Furukawa (古川 雄大)
High School: Saiki Kakujo (Oita)
Date of Birth: May 25, 2004
Height: 186 cm (6' 1")
Weight: 90 kg (198 lbs)
Throws/Bats: Right/Right
Furukawa is a two-way player with a strong swing. His top velocity as a pitcher is 145 KM/H. He had strong measurements for throwing and running as he reached first base in 4.3 seconds. He can run 50 meters in 5.9 seconds.
With no Koshien Tournament experience, he made an impression during the Oita prefecture qualifiers in four games played as Centerfield and as the cleanup hitter.
His style of play is inspired by Yuki Yanagita of the Softbank Hawks. He hopes to be of his caliber in the future and even has the nickname "Oitagita."
In gridiron football terms, Furukawa is an Al Davis kind of player with all the great athletic measurements which can't be coached. He has the potential to be a power hitter if he can develop his bat in the long run.
Trivially, he was born to a Japanese father and Filipino mother. He also shares the same name as a celebrity actor/singer talent.
Team quote: "He is a top class athlete who can become a regular outfielder in the future."
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C Kaito Noda (野田 海人)
High School: Kyushu Kokusai (Fukuoka)
Date of Birth: March 18, 2005
Height: 174 cm (5' 9")
Weight: 78 kg (172 lbs)
Throws/Bats: Right/Right
Noda is another two-way player drafted as a catcher. His top velocity as a pitcher is 145 km/h. By the time it was his senior season, he primarily served as the team captain and was at catcher with a pop speed of 1.9 seconds.
Last September, he was also on the U18 Samurai Japan with Hiruma as a relief pitcher. His school also qualified for the 2022 Summer Koshien where he was the cleanup hitter. His bat wasn't the greatest in production, but scouts saw his physical form and swing to draw attention.
He can reach first base in about 4.5 seconds. Long term, he could develop into a starting catcher.
Team quote: "He is a catcher with excellent footwork and throwing skills. Should be competing in a few years."
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P Minato Aoyama (青山 美夏人)
College: Asia (Tokyo)
High School: Yokohama Hayato (Kanagawa)
Date of Birth: July 19, 2000
Height: 183 cm (6' 0")
Weight: 94 kg (207 lbs)
Throws/Bats: Right/Right
Aoyama was an accomplished college pitcher by his senior season, where he excelled as a starting pitcher. In his four years and playing 30 recorded games, he has a 1.77 ERA with 107 strikeouts in 116.2 innings. He was an ERA leader in his senior year and performed well in the national university tournament to draw scouts attention.
His max velocity is 151 km/h where he's constantly north of 140 km/h. Besides a fastball, he can throw a curve, slider, splitter and two-seamer. While he is experienced as both a reliever and starter, the Lions think he can be the latter as he showed his strengths last year.
A plus for Aoyama is how he's a control pitcher.
Team quote: "He is a full-fledged right-hander who has the power to throw a fastball to amaximum of 150 km/h. There are high hopes for him as a starting pitcher because of his variety of curve and breaking balls."
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P Haruto Yamada (山田 陽翔)
High School: Ohmi (Shiga)
Date of Birth: May 9, 2004
Height: 175 cm (5' 9")
Weight: 78 kg (172 lbs)
Throws/Bats: Right/Right
Yamada is a two-way player who could also be in the outfield, but drafted as a pitcher. He famously carried his team in this past Summer Koshien Tournament to the semifinals and was a relief pitcher in their semifinal appearance in 2021.
As a pitcher, he can top out at 149 km/h with several breaking balls in his arsenal. Specifically, he's best with vertical and horizontal cutters.
As a runner, he can reach first base in 4.4 seconds and had 30 total home runs in his high school career. Since he's a Koshien Tournament darling, Yamada should have a decent following behind him as they're now Lions fans. Someday, the Lions hope to see him as an ichi-gun regular.
Team quote: "He had a great amount of fighting spirit and courage on the mound during his Koshien Tournament play. I feel he'll have a variety of pitches in the future."
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IF Ryosuke Kodama (児玉 亮涼)
College: Kyushu Sangyo (Fukuoka)
High School: Buntoku (Kumamoto)
Date of Birth: July 10, 1998
Height: 166 cm (5' 5")
Weight: 65 kg (143 lbs)
Throws/Bats: Right/Right
Kodama was the starting shortstop for Osaka Gas where he hit second in the lineup. He's a light hitting player with decent speed, but his defense is the primary strength.
He can run 50 meters in 5.9 seconds and reach first base in 4.2 seconds. His playing style is similar to Hirokazu Ibata, remembered for being with the Chunichi Dragons.
In the short term, he looks like a defensive replacement and pinch runner.
Team Quote: "Despite his small stature, he is a high-level player with an excellent intelligence for baseball. His swing is compact and can specialize against breaking pitches."
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Ikusei
IF Kazuki Nomura (野村 和輝)
High School: Higashi Osaka Kashiwara (Osaka)
Date of Birth: June 7, 2003
Height: 183 cm (6' 0")
Weight: 93 kg (205 lbs)
Throws/Bats: Right/Right
Nomura is a two-way player who can also play in the outfield. Since joining the Million Stars, he was a regular third baseman, but also right fielder.
In 55 starts within the BC League, he has a .246 batting average, two he runs and 20 RBIs while playing multiple positions.
As a pitcher, he can hit up to 151 km/h with a fastball, slider, curve, splitter and fork in his arsenal. He only pitched once in the BC League.
With his versatility on not having an affirmed position, the Lions can develop him into somewhere that makes sense.
Team quote: "He's a big infielder, a long-range and has a bright future ahead of him."
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OF Montell Higuma (日隈 モンテル)
Independent League Team: Tokushima Indigo Socks (Tokushima, Shikoku Island League)
High School: Konko Osaka (Osaka)
Date of Birth: March 18, 2000
Height: 186 cm (6' 1")
Weight: 86 kg (190 lbs)
Throws/Bats: Right/Right
Higuma is a two-way player who primarily switched to outfield with the Indigo Socks. He also played independent baseball with the Ryukyu Blue Oceans and Shakaijin baseball with OBC Takashima in the past.
In 26 games in the Shikoku Island League, he recorded a .247 batting average and 13 stolen bases while batting second in the lineup as a centerfielder.
Scouts caught attention to his speed as he can reach first base in 4.1 seconds. If his bat can develop, he could be a defensive replacement or pinch runner if he earns a promotion.
Born to an African-American father and Japanese mother, the latter served in the military. He is also the younger brother of former Yakult Swallows pitcher Julius Higuma (drafted in 2015, was with them from 2016-2020).
Team quote: "He has excellent physical ability and is a player full of speed."
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P Daiki Miura (三浦 大輝)
College: Chukyo (Aichi)
High School: Jishukan (Aichi)
Date of Birth: April 7, 2000
Height: 180 cm (5' 11")
Weight: 92 kg (203 lbs)
Throws / Bats: Right / Left
Miura is a Best IX winner who recorded a 2.02 ERA, 46 strikeouts in 80.1 innings of work in 29 games throughout his collegiate career. He has experience as both a starter and reliever. Miura was more of a reliever in his later years.
His top velocity is 151 km/H while able to mix his repertoire with curveballs and sliders sprinkled in-between.
Team Quote: "In addition to his powerful fastball, he also has a variety of breaking balls, and is a pitcher who can strike out hitters. There are high hopes for him as a starting pitcher and intermediate player in the future."
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C Ryosuke Koresawa (是澤 涼輔)
College: Hosei (Tokyo)
High School: Kendai Takasaki (Gunma)
Date of Birth: April 19, 2000
Height: 178 cm (5' 10")
Weight: 79 kg (174 lbs)
Throws / Bats: Right / Right
Koresawa was mostly a backup catcher at Hosei in the Tokyo Big6. He only appeared in three games for his senior season with only one start recorded.
The Lions liked his shoulder strength and think he can build on this through practice and getting reps. They also saw high intelligence. He can throw as far as 120 meters.
With other catchers like Masatoshi Okada coming off surgery, the Lions have needed catchers for the farm level.
Trivially, he's three years younger than Sena Tsuge as both attended the same high school and count as Senpai/Kohai.
Team Quote: "The strength of his shoulders was the selling point. He will be an ambitious practice bug."
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Overall:
The Lions drafted for need, but some could argue Hiruma was the best position player available for those lacking a bat who can make an instant impact.
With multiple players having two-way capability, it will be interesting to see how the staff utilizes them. Yamada will be intriguing in a few years while Aoyama, Kodama and Hiruma could play sooner than later. We wish these picks the best of luck as they join the team in 2023.
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