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The Saitama Seibu Lions announced their first round draft nomination as LHP Natsuki Takeuchi on Tuesday.
Takeuchi is a college pitcher out of Koku Gakuin University in Tokyo.
"Out of the many potential candidates, Takeuchi is the most talented this year," General Manager Hisanobu "Nabe-Q" Watanabe said in a statement. "We are thinking of adding a little more depth to our left-handed starting rotation.''
Nabe-Q attributed to his control and high velocity being a big factor as to why they like Takeuchi the most.
Since 2015, this is the seventh time the Lions have announced their first round draft pick before the draft itself. They only concealed their pick in 2016 and 2018 for Tatsuya Imai and Wataru Matsumoto, respectively.
Here are the previous first draft pick attempts:
2015: Shinsaburo Tawata, no opposition
2016: Tatsuya Imai, no opposition
2017: Daiki Tajima, lost to Orix Buffaloes
Took Hiromasa Saito unopposed
2018: Wataru Matsumoto, no opposition
2019: Roki Sasaki, lost four way drawing to Chiba Lotte Marines
Took Tetsu Miyagawa and won drawing against Yomiuri Giants for his rights
2020: Takahisa Hayakawa, lost four way drawing to Rakuten Eagles
Took Kento Watanabe unopposed
2021: Chihiro Sumida, won four-way drawing
2022: Takuya Hiruma, no opposition
2023: Natsuki Takeuchi?
Takeuchi has multiple teams linked to him beyond the Lions. It's very likely this pick will be contested by at least one or two other teams. As many as five teams could go for his rights.
He can throw a fastball, curve, slider and changeup mixing up his style. His maximum velocity is 153 km/H.
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