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Saturday, January 27, 2024

One season later: Progress Report on 2022 Seibu Lions Draft Class

 

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We conclude our Seibu Lions draft series dating back to 2014 with a brief look at the 2022 Draft Class.

Like the last few, this is a progress report and the jury is still out on all these picks. 

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First round: Takuya Hiruma (Waseda University, Tokyo)

Hiruma was thought to be the best pure hitter in this class and the Lions earned his rights unopposed, even as expected at least one or two teams to contest this. For his rookie season, he had flashes while earning his first call up closer to the start of summer. 

He has plenty of room to grow, but has the traits of a five-tool player.

Grade: A-

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Second Round: Yudai Furukawa (Saiki Kakujo, Oita)

Furukawa was viewed as an athlete who needed to bulk up since coming out of high school. He spent the 2023 season training as he gained five kilograms. 

Furukawa only appeared in one ni-gun game as he trained mostly with the third team unit. 

If things project right, he could be a starting outfielder in a few years.

Grade: B+

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Third round: Kaito Noda (Kyushu Kokusai, Fukuoka)

Noda was a two-way player taken as a catcher out of high school. A U18 Samurai Japan member, Noda showed good footwork as a catcher to draw attention of the scouts. He appeared in 15 ni-gun games for 2023 and hopes to build off of it.

A long term project, he could become a starting catcher in a few years. 

Grade: B

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Fourth Round: Minato Aoyama (Asia University, Tokyo)

Aoyama was given a significant amount of playing time for a rookie. Manager Kazuo Matsui had him make his ichi-gun debut in a save situation on Opening Day in 2023, where he couldn't close. 

He lost his closer role despite earning high leverage situations through camp and ended the year in medium and low leverage. 

In 39 games, he recorded a 2.96 ERA in 45.2 of innings of work. The jury is still out, it's a matter of if he can learn from his rookie season going forward. 

Grade: B-

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Fifth round: Haruto Yamada (Ohmi, Shiga)

Yamada was a 2021 Koshien tournament darling who took his school to the semifinals. For 2023, he only recorded three ni-gun games and hopes to develop his body and pitches entering 2024.

It's possible the Lions see him as a future relief pitcher. 

Grade: C+

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Sixth round: Ryosuke Kodama (Osaka Gas, Osaka)

Kodama was forced to play very early into the 2023 season with Sosuke Genda injured at shortstop. A shakaijin, Kodama showed his defense is solid, but his bat was lacking to be an everyday ichi-gun player.

At worst, the Lions found a defensive replacement, which is good for the sixth round. 

Grade: B-

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Ikusei Round 1: Kazuki Nomura (Ishikawa Million Stars, Ishikawa)

Nomura stayed with the third team for the 2023 season in an underwhelming first year. He appeared in only four ni-gun games.

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Ikusei Round 2: Montell Higuma (Tokushima Indigo Socks, Tokushima)

Higuma saw 21 ni-gun games for 2023 and would be closer to earning a promotion compared to some players. 

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Ikusei Round 3: Daiki Miura (Chukyo University, Aichi)

Miura pitched in 13 ni-gun games with minimal impact. 

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Ikusei Round 4: Ryosuke Koresawa (Hosei University, Tokyo)

Koresawa was a career backup catcher in the Tokyo Big6.  He appeared in 26 ni-gun games for 2023. He has an uphill battle given the catcher position on the Lions. 

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Overall: B

It's too early to make any calls on these players after one season. But like most drafts, it will hinge on Hiruma, the first round pick who has very high expectations to become a starting outfielder.

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Other drafts in series:








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