Monday, October 23, 2023

2023 NPB Draft: Where do the Lions go from here?

 

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The 2023 NPB Draft takes place on Thursday, October 26. While the Japan Series is the biggest distraction for the Hanshin Tigers and Orix Buffaloes, it's time for the rest of the league to look at their future and see who could be part of the plan going forward.

For the Saitama Seibu Lions, they're eyeing about 10 names for their first round nomination. 

Here's a look at each position:

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Pitcher:

The Lions announced Natsuki Takeuchi as their nomination 

There's been a higher load of pitchers being scouted and looked at by the Lions staff. Based on needs, any bullpen or rotation depth doesn't hurt to have. Factor in Kona Takahashi and Kaima Taira aiming to go to MLB someday and you need to think long term. 

Long term, LHP Yugo Maesa (Osaka Toin High School) could be an intriguing fall back option. Others include RHP Hayato Fuji and RHP Kenichi Murata out of university pitchers.

High school names have two-way players Keita Manabe (Koryo), Seiya Yokoyama (Ueda Nishi) and Issei Konno (Furukawa Gakuen). 

Expect at least four pitchers in this class.

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Catcher

The catcher situation has been rather fragile with Yuto Koga and Sena Tsuge taking the load. They can play defense, but offense is lacking. 

Yuya Shinto (Jobu University) is a candidate the Lions could take. They've also looked at Shuna Hori (Hotoku Gakuen High School) for a long term option.

In the senryokugai list, Masato Saito and Shota Makino were let go. 

Given Sena Tsuge is also coming off surgery on his elbow, they could take another depth option. 

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Infielder

The news was all centered on Rintaro Sasaki (Hanamaki Higashi HS), but it became an announcement he would go to University in the USA to obtain his goal of playing in MLB. 

Dan Kajiyama (Takeda HS) and Yuya Tanoue (Nihon Fujisawa HS) have been scouted. Leon Murata (Kogakkan University) is another candidate. 

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Outfield

The outfield is the biggest short term weakness on the Lions since 2020. Unfortunately, the estimated board doesn't project anyone to be seen. The only player the Lions have looked at is Ibuki Momotani (Ritsumeikan University).  He counts as a kohai for Yuji Kaneko. 

It's likely the Lions trust their picks from within hoping Takuya Hiruma develops while Manaya Nishikawa and Shohei Suzuki can be everyday starters if not Gakuto Wakabayashi. 

Fans would want immediate help and Kyoto Ueda (Meiji University) or Ryuki Watarai (JX-ENEOS) would make a lot of sense for immediate needs.  It appears both players aren't being looked at, unless the team is pulling a 180 and tricking everyone. 

The Lions appear to be fine with this area in the short term, but there haven't been any candidates who look to be there long term.  They're hoping Kenton Watanabe can develop. 

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Outlook

The Lions made a major cutting announcement with a combined 16 players (including two foreign ikusei) being let go. Seven players on the 70 man roster were cut while nine ikusei were designated as senryokugai. 

Logically, they should draft seven players before the ikusei round based on the roster openings. Even if pending free agents like Hotaka Yamakawa and Katsunori Hirai were on the roster, there's a total of 56 domestic players under contract.  They had six foreigners last season which would bump the number to 61, so the roster openings are there for up to nine if they keep the slots open for imports. 

Most reports indicate the Lions are eyeing a pitcher in the first round, but it hasn't been publicly announced at the time of this writing. 

Only the Hiroshima Carp have announced their nomination with Hayato Tsunehiro of Aoyama Gakuin. Everyone else has been silent. 



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