The 2025 NPB Draft took place on Thursday night with all 12 teams making their picks for the future.
For the first round, the Saitama Seibu Lions already said they were going for C Taiga Kojima out of Meiji University and they won his rights without opposition.
In a drama free first round for the Lions, there was plenty of other surprises with two teams wanting the Stanford infielder Rintaro Sasaki.
Kojima is considered to be one of the best bats available in this class. However, he doesn't have a solidified position. Once an infielder, he was later a catcher.
When playing for Samurai Japan at the collegiate level, he became a DH. The Lions offense has been a weakness and they addressed a need right away. On paper, he could start early if he impresses the staff.
It's possible he could compete with Yuto Koga for the catcher position, even if his defense is weaker.
As earlier stated, the Lions have lacked long term depth at catcher with veteran Ginjiro Sumitani being the only one who is serviceable. Kojima can hope to change the narrative.
Here are all the Lions draft picks for 2025:
1. C Taiga Kojima, Meiji University, Tokyo
2. LHP Hakua Iwaki, Chuo University, Tokyo
3. OF Shun Akiyama, Chukyo University, Aichi
4. RHP Keita Horikoshi, Tohoku Fukushi University, Miyagi
5. IF/RHP Sowa Yokota, Yamamura Gakuin High School, Saitama
6. IF Yuushin Kawada, Shikoku Ginko (bank), Kochi
Ikusei
1. IF Yuito Araii, Hachioji Gakuin High School, Tokyo
2. IF Takumu Imaoka, Kamimura Gakuin High School, Kagoshima
3. RHP Keishin Saito, Tokushima Indigo Socks (Tokushima)
4. LHP Sota Hamaoka, Kawawa High School, Kanagawa
5. LHP Hiroto Hiraguchi, Nihon Keisei University, Fukuoka
6. RHP Yuma Masaki, Sophia University, Tokyo
7. RHP Ginto Ando, Tokushima Indigo Socks (Tokushima)
We will research and study further on these picks with a future writeup.
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