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The Saitama Seibu Lions draft of 2024 concluded on Thursday, October 24. A total of 14 names were selected in both the regular and ikusei drafts combined. Here is our summary of every player:
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Round 1: IF Hiroto Saito 齋藤 大翔
High School: Kanazawa (Ishikawa)
Date of Birth: January 27, 2007
Height: 181cm (5' 11")
Weight: 76 kg (168 lbs)
Throws/Bats: Right/Right
The Lions tried to go for it and failed twice with their first round nomination, falling back on Saito as their third choice.
A starting shortstop since his first year of high school, he worked his way up to batting third in the lineup by the time he graduated.
He will need to hit the gym and be in pro level shape, but the Lions see an athlete who can field tremendously with an impressive range. His bat can be above average as it develops.
In the long term, he should be the starting shortstop when Sosuke Genda's time is done. The Lions emphasized the shortstop position with all three nominations, but it appears the talent level between their second and third choices isn't far off. Only difference is Saito is a little slower than Yusei Ishizuka and isn't as versatile on the infield, but has room to grow. He also has a fallback option as a pitcher if they Lions want to go this path.
Team quote: "He is a player who is good at running, hitting and defense, but in particular his defense [stands out]. He has the potential to be a regular infielder in the future."
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Round 2: OF Seiya Watanabe 渡部 聖弥
College: Osaka Shogyo (Osaka)
High School: Koryo (Hiroshima)
Date of Birth: August 31, 2002
Height: 177 cm (5' 10")
Weight: 88 kg (194 lbs)
Throws/Bats: Right/Right
Watanabe was an accomplished hitter being a batting champion for one season while finishing in the Top 10 for several of them. He earned his way to being the third batter in the lineup and starting center field for majority of his time at University. He could've even been selected out of high school based on his accomplishments at Koryo.
Watanabe is athletic in running 50 meters in 6.0 seconds and a first base run in 4.3 seconds. He has a strong arm to play in centerfield and was on the national collegiate team tournament vs USA in the summer of 2023.
He can hit for power besides average, many thought he could be a first round pick, but fell out of the round with a huge difference of opinion after the top two players went off the books.
It's possible he competes for a starting outfield position right away given the Lions situation. He could be in centerfield as he and Takuya Hiruma were viewed as top picks.
Team Quote: "He is a powerful and dynamic player. He has a strong will and we hope he will become a key player in the future."
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Round 3: RHP Shoma Karyu 狩生 聖真
High School: Saiki Kakujo (Oita)
Date of Birth: December 25, 2006
Height: 186 cm (6' 1")
Weight: 74 kg (163 lbs)
Throws/Bats: Right/Right
Karyu can throw as fast as 150 km/h with a fastball, slider, curve and changeup. When qualifying for Koshien, he had experience as both a reliever and starting pitcher when there would be split starts.
By being on the Lions, he is reunited with teammate OF Yudai Furukawa, who was taken in the 2022 draft. The Lions like his potential in velocity and it's possible he has the control to be a rotation candidate in the long term.
Team quote: "He has an attractive fastball and is a pitcher who could be a part of the starting rotation in the future."
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Round 4: OF Kuan-Chen Lin 林 冠臣
College: Nihon Keizai (Fukuoka)
High School: Nichinan Gakuen (Miyazaki)
Date of Birth: December 30, 2002
Height: 195 cm (6' 5")
Weight: 105 kg (231 lbs)
Throws/Bats: Right/Right
Lin was a Best IX outfielder for his junior and senior seasons in college. An international student from Taiwan, he's been in Japan since his 2018 at Nichinan Gakuen high school.
Splitting time at both DH and outfield, he was batting No. 3 in the lineup for Nihon Keizai while able to hit for average and power. A tall and athletic player, he can bench press 145 kg and his stock increased even more in his senior season.
If he impresses coaches early, there's a chance he could be a starting outfielder for the Lions in 2025.
Team Quote: "His power and speed make him a great player and we can expect him to compete for a regular outfield spot soon."
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Round 5: RHP Hibiki Shinohara 篠原 響
High School: Fukui Kogyo (Fukui)
Date of Birth: September 20, 2006
Height: 178 cm (5' 10")
Weight: 76 kg (168 lbs)
Throws/Bats: Right/Right
Shinohara carried his school as the Ace in the prefectural tournaments of Hokuriku to get noticed. He has a velocity of 148 km/H where he can also throw a slider and fork ball.
A decent strikeout rate received enough notice by the Lions to get drafted. Maybe he could be a rotation pitcher in a few years.
Team quote: "He's a well-balanced pitcher with a fastball and variety of breaking ball pitches. We hope he can be part of the starting rotation in the future."
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Round 6: C Haruki Tatsuyama 龍山 暖
High School: Enagic Sports (Okinawa)
Date of Birth: May 13, 2006
Height: 175 cm (5' 9")
Weight: 78 kg (172 lbs)
Throws/Bats: Right/Right
Tatsuyama was part of the first class to open at a new high school in Okinawa. A starting cleanup hitter, he was the star to help carry Engiac to their first prefectural tournament win in school history.
Some scouts believe he has the strongest arm for a high school catcher at 110m for the long throw and a pop speed to second base of 1.8 seconds. He also has potential to hit for power with the right development in time.
Team quote: "He has a well-balanced build, strong arm and impressive hitting. He'll be a valuable catcher for the team."
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Round 7: IF Teruki Koga 古賀 輝希
Hardball Team: Chikumagawa Koshiki Baseball Club (Nagano)
College: Nihon Keizai (Fukuoka)
High School: Saga Kenritsu Shogyo (Saga)
Date of Birth: August 25, 2000
Height: 181 cm (5' 11")
Weight: 88 kg (194 lbs)
Throws/Bats: Right/Left
Coming from an independent Hardball team, Koga was a cleanup hitter for Chikumagawa and starting third baseman. His selling point is his potential in power hitting.
Trivially, he has already seen the Lions farm team in an organized game as an opponent. It's possible he got attention from the Lions in these outings.
Given how the Lions offense was in 2024, there's an outside chance he could earn a starting position.
Team Quote: "He is a power hitter with excellent contact hitting."
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Ikusei round
Round 1: LHP Yamato Fuji 冨士 大和
High School: Omiya Higashi (Saitama)
Date of Birth: August 26, 2006
Height: 186 cm (6' 1")
Weight: 80 kg (176 lbs)
Throws/Bats: Left/Left
Fuji received attention for taking his school to the semi-finals of the Saitama prefectural tournament in his second season. He's a side arm pitcher with a high strikeout rate and got on the radar from a 17 strikeout game which resulted in a two-hit shutout during the prefectural tournament.
His maximum velocity is 144km/h where he can throw a changeup and slider.
Team Quote: "Although he is slim he is a local high school student with room to grow. He will need to get used to professional baseball."
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Round 2: IF Taiyo Sato 佐藤 太陽
College: Kanagawa (Kanagawa)
High School: Hamamatsu Shogyo (Shizuoka)
Date of Birth: May 19, 2002
Height: 176 cm (5' 9")
Weight: 78 kg (172 lbs)
Throws/Bats: Right/Left
Sato can play second, shortstop and third base on the infield where he was the No. 3 hitter in college. A light hitter, he can run to first base in as fast as 3.7 seconds. He has the ability to hit opposite field.
His versatility could earn a promotion in the future.
Team Quote: "He is a well balanced utility infielder who is also good at running, defense and offense. He also has leadership skills."
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Round 3: OF Ramal Ghibin Ratnayake ラタナヤケ・ラマル・ギービン
High School: Osaka Toin (Osaka)
Date of Birth: April 8, 2006
Height: 180 cm (5' 11")
Weight: 91 kg (201 lbs)
Throws/Bats: Right/Right
Ratnayake has parents from Sri Lanka, but he was born in Nagoya. He earned a cleanup hitting position at Osaka Toin by his second year and he primarily plays 3B.
His stock primarily fell for not having hitting results, but scouts still liked his form for his swing. He lost his starting job by his senior season and only came on as a pinch hitter.
There's potential in raw power, but to executive against pitching is an obstacle for Ratnayake. He can run 50 meters in 6.2 seconds and throw 100 meters.
Team Quote: "He can hit a ball farther than most high school students and can be a home run hitter in the future."
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Round 4: LHP So Sato 佐藤 爽
College: Seisa Dohto (Hokkaido)
High School: Sapporo Yamanote (Hokkaido)
Date of Birth: February 9, 2003
Height: 177 cm (5' 10")
Weight: 79 kg (174 lbs)
Throws/Bats: Left/Left
A 3/4 arm slot, Sato earned his starting position by his junior year with Top IX honors. His maximum velocity is 148 km/h where he can also throw a curve, changeup, slider.
He was a productive player, but needs to see better competition to earn a promotion.
Team Quote: "He has an excellent sense and heart for pitching."
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Round 5: OF Haruto Sawada 澤田 遥斗
High School: Kyoto Kokusai (Kyoto)
Date of Birth: July 30, 2006
Height: 170 cm (5' 7")
Weight: 68 kg (150 lbs)
Throws/Bats: Right/Switch
Sawada can play centerfield where he was batting second and third for his high school. He had a decent batting form in 2023. His 50 meter dash clocked in at 6.0 seconds.
To earn a promotion, he will need to bulk up and hit the gym.
Team Quote: "He has a decent physically ability to run with his range. As a switch hitter, we're looking forward to seeing him play with grit."
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Round 6: IF Haruma Fukuo 福尾 遥真
Date of Birth: April 6, 2006
Height: 181 cm (5' 11")
Weight: 77 kg (170 lbs)
Throws/Bats: Right/Left
Fukuo got on the radar for his appearance in Spring Koshien. He had a three-hit game as the starting shortstop.
Fittingly for the Lions, he looked up to Sosuke Genda as his inspiration and modeled his game after him. Now they will be teammates.
Team Quote: "He has excellent running, hitting and defensive abilities. We hope he can represent Japan in the future."
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Round 7: OF Okemumei Umebinyuo ウメビンユオ オケム明
High School: Asahikawa Shiho (Hokkaido)
Date of Birth: April 10, 2006
Height: 184 cm (6' 0")
Weight: 77 kg (170 lbs)
Throws/Bats: Right/Right
Umebinyuo was born to a Nigerian father and Japanese mother. He didn't earn starting experience until his senior season in high school where his school made the north Hokkaido semi finals.
He can run 50 meters in 6.0 seconds and has the physical tools to be a great, including a strong arm.
Umebinyuo idolized and modeled his game after SoftBank Hawks star Yuki Yanagita. With experience and time, he can earn a promotion.
Team Quote: "He is a very physically gifted player, especially with his shoulders and legs. We hope he will work hard to make the most of his strengths."
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Reaction
The Lions took some athletic players in the Ikusei round, but it was good to see them go for a quantity of players rather than just sit back or get cheap about it. In recent years, the Lions have tried to use Ikusei more and more with seven players taken, the odds can increase at finding an ichi-gun worthy player.
They've been going for the consensus best talent available in recent years from Chihiro Sumida to Takahisa Hayakawa and this time was no different for Muneyama. Despite failing, Watanabe could be a decent consolation given he fell out of the first round. Can only hope some of these players can make an immediate impact sooner than later.
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