Unlike most teams, Hanshin manager Akihiro Yano did not divulge the team’s direction as to which player they would enter the sweepstakes for in Round 1 of the draft, which took place on Monday, October 26 in Tokyo (but mainly via online meetings).
The team has not yet finished cutting unneeded players, but typically by this point in the season, that task has already been completed. We do know that RHP Kyuji Fujikawa is retiring and that OF Kosuke Fukudome and LHP Atsushi Nohmi are not being brought back. Aside from that, your guess is as good as mine as to what types of players the team needs to draft and sign this offseason.
In case you’re interested, here’s a look at the post-draft reports from 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016 and 2015.
Entering this year’s draft, the team had successfully drawn the winning ballot just six times (most recent win: Shun Takayama in 2015) since 1966, and failed to do so 18 times (most recent loss: Yasunobu Okugawa in 2019). Well, we got our guy this year! Better make it 7 lottery wins!!! Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you…
Round 1 – Teruaki Sato (佐藤 輝明)
From: Hyogo Prefecture
Date of Birth: March 13, 1999
Drafted Out of: Kindai University (Nara)
High School: Nigawa Gakuin High (Hyogo)
Position: 3B/OF
Height: 187 cm (6’2″)
Weight: 94 kg (207 lbs)
Throws/Bats: Right/Left
About Sato: He can throw 100 meters, runs the 50-meter dash in 6 seconds, and is widely regarded as the best power-hitting player in the draft this year. He set a new record for most home runs in the Kansai University baseball league. He is also regarded as a plus-runner and fielder.
Sato’s Comments: I am glad to have been chosen by Hanshin. I used to go to Koshien a lot as a kid, and now hopefully the kids in the area will come out and watch me play. I hope to become a big power hitter, fielder and base runner. I know the fans at Koshien are really lively and passionate. I grew up watching Yano the catcher, so it’s great to be able to play for him.
Round 2 – Masashi Itoh (伊藤 将司)
From: Chiba Prefecture
Date of Birth: May 8, 1996
Drafted Out of: JR Higashi Nippon
High School: Yokohama High (Kanagawa)
University: International Budo U (Chiba)
Position: Pitcher
Height: 178 cm (5’10”)
Weight: 85 kg (190 lbs)
Throws/Bats: Left/Left
About Ito: This lefty throws with a lot of movement and hides his pitches well. Shows high ability to go deep into games but is capable of coming out of the bullpen as well. Threw 5 innings of 1-run ball against the Giants’ farm team in June 2020. His arsenal includes a forkball, curveball, slider, change-up, and a 146 km/h fastball.
Round 3 – Ren Satoh (佐藤 蓮)
From: Shizuoka Prefecture
Date of Birth: April 11, 1998
Drafted Out of: Jobu University (Gunma)
High School: Hiryu High (Shizuoka)
Position: Pitcher
Height: 188 cm (6’2″)
Weight: 101 kg (222 lbs)
Throws/Bats: Right/Right
About Sato: Boasts a curveball, a cutter and a forkball, plus a fastball that maxes out at 155 km/h. Good form, good motion, plus lots of room to grow. Could be a real force out of the bullpen. Did not get a lot of playing time but full of potential.
Round 4 – Yuki Sakaeda (榮枝 裕貴)
From: Kochi Prefecture
Date of Birth: May 16, 1998
Drafted Out of: Ritsumeikan University (Kyoto)
High School: Kochi High (Kochi)
Position: Catcher
Height: 180 cm (5’11”)
Weight: 81 kg (178 lbs)
Throws/Bats: Right/Right
About Sakaeda: Was chosen to represent Japan during his university years, and boasts a strong arm and power bat. Hits to all parts of the field, and is good under pressure. Has good footwork and has a 1.8-second pop-time (1.7 according to the video below).
Round 5 – Shoki Murakami (村上 頌樹)
From: Hyogo Prefecture
Date of Birth: June 25, 1998
Drafted Out of: Toyo University (Tokyo)
High School: Chiben Gakuen High (Nara)
Position: Pitcher
Height: 174 cm (5’8″)
Weight: 75 kg (165 lbs)
Throws/Bats: Right/Left
About Murakami: A well-groomed pitcher whose fastball peaks in the upper-140 km/h range. Won the spring Koshien tournament in his third year of high school and has shown his ability to perform on the big stage in university as well. Has good control, went 6-0 with a 0.77 ERA in the spring of his junior year, winning MVP and Outstanding Pitcher in the process.
Round 6 – Takumu Nakano (中野 拓夢)
From: Yamagata Prefecture
Date of Birth: June 28, 1996
Drafted Out of: Mitsubishi Motors Okazaki (Aichi)
High School: Nichidai Yamagata High (Yamagata)
University: Tohoku Fukushi U (Miyagi)
Position: Middle Infield
Height: 171 cm (5’7″)
Weight: 69 kg (152 lbs)
Throws/Bats: Right/Left
About Nakano: Shows good flexibility and speed in the field. Good bat control, speed on the base paths, and some punch as well. Batted .421 in an all-Japan tournament in 2019, leading his team to the semi-finals.
Round 7 – Nozomu Takatera (高寺 望夢)
From: Nagano Prefecture
Date of Birth: October 17, 2002
Drafted Out of: Ueda Nishi High School (Nagano)
Position: Infield
Height: 178 cm (5’10”)
Weight: 75 kg (165 lbs)
Throws/Bats: Right/Left
About Takatera: A utility player who possesses speed, fielding and hitting ability. Could be a strong leadoff or #2 hitter in the future.
Round 8 – Daichi Ishii (石井 大智)
From: Akita Prefecture
Date of Birth: July 29, 1997
Drafted Out of: Kochi Fighting Dogs (Kochi)
High School: National Institute of Technology Akita College (Akita)
Position: Pitcher
Height: 175 cm (5’9″)
Weight: 81 kg (178 lbs)
Throws/Bats: Right/Right
About Ishii: Power pitcher whose fastball has good zip on it. Good control, good tempo, good pick-off move. Threw a complete-game one-hitter (15 K) in his team’s Opening Day game in 2019, and led the league with 122 strikeouts.
Development Draft Round 1 – Masaki Iwata (岩田 将貴)
From: Kyoto Prefecture
Date of Birth: June 16, 1998
Drafted Out of: Kyushu Sangyo University (Fukuoka)
High School: Kyushu Sangyo High (Fukuoka)
Position: Pitcher
Height: 178 cm (5’10”)
Weight: 83 kg (183 lbs)
Throws/Bats: Left/Left
About Iwata: Sidearm lefty throws in the 130 km/h range. In the spring of his sophomore year, he won 7 straight starts and recorded a 1.44 ERA. He was also named to the Best Nine team and awarded the MVP. Looks to be a left-handed specialist out of the bullpen in the future.
In all honesty, I know even less than what I wrote here about these guys. I have not watched any video on them (yet), but am excited that we got some good new young blood into the fold. I have high hopes for Teruaki Sato, and one of my Tigers Cast friends is super high on Murakami and Takatera.
Welcome to Hanshin, young men! If you want to learn English, H-TEN’s at your service!