Chunichi Dragons 2020 Opening Day Starting Lineup and Predictions for Key Players

Preface

The preseason games for professional baseball have ended, and the opening day is fast approaching.
That said, the situation is quite unprecedented, with exhibition games being held without spectators and the season opening being postponed.
Since there will be practice matches until the season starts, the players won't get out of shape, but they'll be playing at a different pace than usual, so it might throw them off their rhythm.

However, according to the original schedule, preparations for the opening of the season are now complete.
So, I'd like to do some predictions for the Chunichi Dragons' starting lineup and analyze their strengths and weaknesses.
However, since this is an analysis by a fan and not by an expert, there may be disagreements.

fielder

catcher

Gunji has made a strong impression with his hitting, and I think he could potentially be the starting catcher on opening day.
His throwing arm is said to be average, but his catching technique and leadership skills will surely improve, and above all, the fact that he can hit even as a catcher is very appealing.
He has a good eye for pitches, and in the 10 games so far, he has a batting average of .357 and an on-base percentage of .526.
I would still recommend Gunji, especially since he has eight position players participating in the offense and keeps the opposing pitcher on their toes.

Kato, who came in second, seems to be getting a lot of tough treatment from Head Coach Ito and others, but I think that's just a sign of their high expectations of him.
Putting aside personal preferences, Kato is also a strong candidate to start the season as the catcher.
I hope they can make use of the practical experience they gained last year.
However, I feel like I hit too much last year, so I'm worried about how well I'll be able to hit this year.

I think the third catcher will be either Kinoshita or Ohno Sho.
Last year, when the game became chaotic, Ohno, with his superior experience, was able to calm things down.
Kinoshita is consistent, but his batting, which is highly regarded, hasn't produced results, so he inevitably seems less appealing.

First baseman

Without a doubt, Vicedo will be the one to take the spot.
Even in the preseason games, he's consistently delivered when we need him to with runners in scoring position, so I don't feel any anxiety at the moment.
He's good at fielding and base running, so he shouldn't really need defensive replacements or pinch runners, but it's frustrating that he's often substituted to reduce the burden on others.

I think Fukuda will come in second place.
However, as long as Vicedo is there, I don't think he'll be able to take a regular spot.
I think he's often brought on to reduce the burden on the player, such as after Vicedo has been substituted out.

I think Shun Ishikawa will come in as the third choice.
He was a dominant force in the minor leagues, hitting quite well, but not so much in the major leagues; he was the king of the minor leagues.
However, the fact that he's been given so many at-bats in the preseason games is a sign of the high expectations placed on him.
I feel like I'm getting used to the ball used in the first team, but the problem is that I don't hit many extra-base hits.
While it might be different in other positions, if you don't hit many extra-base hits, you won't get much playing time.
Since he's 29 years old, I hope he'll do his best to establish himself in the first team, even if it's just as a pinch hitter.

second baseman

Abe, who had a breakout year last year, will probably be a regular player.
His performance in the preseason games wasn't bad, and his defense has improved considerably over the past year.
His positioning, in particular, and his coordination with the shortstop have improved, making him a reliable player both offensively and defensively.
However, last year was the only year he performed consistently throughout the year, so it remains to be seen whether he can perform just as well this year.
If you can continue to perform well this year, I think you'll be able to prove that you're the real deal, so I hope you'll do your best, considering this year is a crucial one.

With Dojo undergoing elbow surgery, Mitsumata and Mizowaki are the names that come up as the second-best candidates.
Mizowaki originally had the image of being fast, a skilled hitter, and good at fielding, but it seemed like he was always plagued by injuries due to bad timing.
I've been given many opportunities to play in the preseason games this year.
However, the results haven't been great, so it's still somewhat disappointing.
Mitsumata has excellent defensive skills as a defensive specialist, but his weakness at bat is a concern.

He's third in line, but there's a chance that Neo might be the one to play.
I was trying to get more playing time by taking on the center position, but a formidable rival has emerged in that role as well.
In that case, a second version of one of the original concepts is a possibility.
However, he hasn't really made much of an impression with his hitting, so in terms of pure competition, I feel he's still far behind Mizowaki and Mitsumata.
Personally, I think it wouldn't be a bad idea to use him for development purposes if something were to happen to Abe.

third baseman

Takahashi Shuhei will almost certainly be a regular player.
In the preseason games, perhaps due to being in the unfamiliar second spot in the batting order, there were times when he wasn't hitting as well as he'd hoped, but after moving back to the third spot, he seemed to regain his original form.
However, I am concerned that he hits mostly singles to the opposite field and not many extra-base hits to the pull side.
He was always that type of player, and he could hit the ball strongly to the opposite field, but I think he's adapted to Nagoya Dome.
His defensive skills have improved to the point where they are among the best in the league, and if we limit it to third base, I think he could potentially be selected for the Japanese national team in the future.

If Takahashi is unavailable, Fukuda or Mizowaki could be considered as the second-best options.
If Dojo returns in April, when he is scheduled to make his comeback, there is a possibility that he will be pushed out of the lineup.

shortstop

Kyoda will definitely be in the starting lineup.
His defensive skills are undeniable, and now we just need to see him improve his batting.
However, he's now able to draw walks more often at bat, and he's swinging at fewer balls outside the strike zone.
He seemed to be in poor form during the latter half of the preseason games, but it appeared he was trying out various things.
Looking at it from a long-term perspective, I think it's growing steadily and surely, so I don't think there's much to worry about.

As for the second-string position, I feel like only Doujou could fill it if he returns, or Mitsumata if he doesn't.
However, Kyoda hasn't suffered any major injuries so far, so I hope he can continue to play healthily throughout the year as before.

left fielder

I think Fukuda is the most likely candidate.
Personally, I think Fukuda hasn't made much of an impression in the preseason games, so I'd like to see them use either Watanabe Katsu or Takeda Kengo.
Watanabe has been making an impression since last year by using his speed to play center field and by showcasing his distinctive one-legged batting stance, and he did reasonably well in the preseason games.
He's a valuable player for the Chunichi Dragons because of his good plate discipline, so I think it's not impossible that he'll be in the starting lineup.
Even if he's not in the starting lineup, he should be useful as a pinch hitter, pinch runner, or defensive substitute.
Since he's a player who's worked his way up from the minor leagues, I personally hope he does well and performs well.

Takeda is a player whose strengths lie in his defensive skills and power hitting.
However, it had the drawback of flying far when it hit the target, but not hitting it at all, but it seems that they are gradually getting better at it.
He's a similar type of player to Fukuda, who strikes out a lot, but he's still young and good at fielding, making him one of the promising players.
Manager Yoda commented that Watanabe and Takeda had made a very good impression during the preseason games, so one of them might be in the starting lineup.

If Almonte is fit in time, then Almonte will also be a possibility.
There's a long shot possibility that Sierra, who's registered for development, might make a strong impression... but that's probably not very realistic.

Center fielder

I think Oshima is the perfect choice.
Although he's getting older, he's still strong in hitting, fielding, and base running, and he's been getting solid results in the preseason games.
He has signed a long-term contract and is highly motivated with his sights set on the goal of 2000 hits, so I think he will perform as well as he does every year.

However, if Oshima gets injured, the gap in skill between him and the second-best player is significant, so the team's strength will drop drastically, which is a worrying concern.
Watanabe is a strong candidate for second place, and there's a possibility that Neo might also be a possibility.

right fielder

I think Hirata is fine.
Although the results in the preseason games haven't been great, I don't think there's much to worry about.
However, since they have almost never been able to play a season without injuries, they will definitely need reserve players.

Endo has a proven track record as the second-string player, but he hasn't played in many exhibition games.
Has he not been able to break into the competition for a spot on the first team?
If that happens, I think we'll see figures like Watanabe, Takeda, and Iryo emerge, just like on the left wing.

pitcher

Starting pitcher

I think the first and second starting pitchers will be Yuta Ohno and Yuya Yanagi.
While Ohno's performance in the preseason games was somewhat concerning, he has consistently produced results, so I think we can count on him to some extent.

It seems like anyone could come in from third place onwards.
For example, Yoshimi has been performing well, so he should be able to secure a spot in the rotation.
In addition, new recruit Okano also had good control, and his fastball, which had more power than expected, was consistently hitting the low part of the strike zone.
Since he didn't give up any walks or hit batters and was getting results, I personally strongly recommend Okano.

Yamamoto Taku was throwing some pretty good pitches, so I think he could definitely make it into the rotation.
He's still a young pitcher, but the fact that he has the potential to break into the first-team rotation is something to look forward to in the future.

In addition, Ogasawara, who is gradually improving his form, and Umezu, who is a little behind in his preparations, both have plenty of potential, so I think we can expect good things from them.
In summary, the pitcher rotation is:Ohno, Yanagi, Yoshimi, Okano, Ogasawara, UmezuI think these six people will be at the center of things.

Relief pitcher

Fuku will likely be the central figure in the bullpen.
Last year, he consistently delivered very stable pitching as a setup man, earning the trust of his teammates.
They'll probably be entrusted with the 7th and 8th innings, which are likely to be crucial in a winning situation.
I think he pitched in the most games of his professional career last year, so I'm curious about the degree of fatigue and how he's being studied by other pitchers.

And as a second setup pitcher, Gonzalez is an excellent choice.
He relies on a heavy-looking fastball and slider as his main pitches, and his control is good, resulting in a consistently stable pitching performance.
In terms of type, it's like putting Sobue on the left and improving various aspects of accuracy.

Fujishima, as always, was pitching well, getting batters to strike out one after another with his fastballs around 140 km/h.
However, if the ball is thrown too easily, it's immediately shot down, which makes it feel a little unstable.

Based on what we've seen of Matayoshi in the preseason games, he's had some decent results.
However, I think that his toughness will be put to good use, and he'll be used as a utility player in close matches, alongside Sobue.

The one who looks interesting is the new player, Hashimoto.
Just when you thought he might be used as a starter, manager Yoda has selected him for a relief role and has stated that he could also be used as a setup man.
He is indeed a left-handed pitcher with a good changeup that can get strikeouts, and considering his number 13 jersey, that kind of usage seems interesting.

Suppressor

I think we'll basically stick with Okada as the closer.
It's hard to say that Okada is an absolute closer, but he's a pitcher we can rely on to a certain extent at the moment, so we've selected him again this year.
Depending on their condition, other pitchers are also a possibility,Manager Yoda himself has said that he wants to keep the closer in place and not change them so easily.
While it's possible that Martinez could be the closer until he's out for the Olympics, the manager dislikes having the closer change mid-season, so unless something extraordinary happens, I think they'll stick with Okada.

Predicted opening day starting lineup

Based on the above, my prediction for the opening day starting lineup is as follows:

I had a feeling that Kato was the most likely catcher, but I chose Gunji, partly due to my personal preference and partly because of my expectations.
I think this is pretty much the final lineup.
I think the only positions that might change are left fielder and catcher.
Since there's still time before the season starts, depending on the results of the practice games, there's a possibility that the left field position could change to someone like Almonte.

Players with promising futures

Finally, I'd like to introduce a few players who, while not yet in the starting lineup for opening day, have shown improvement and show promise for the future.

・Ishibashi (capture)
He's been highly regarded since last year, and with his powerful hitting and strong arm, I think he's in a position to definitely aim for the starting catcher position.
His youth and the emergence of players like Gunji and Kato mean there's no pressure to rush him into establishing himself in the first team, which is a positive factor.
I hope he'll hone his skills in the minor leagues now, as he's the leading candidate to become the starting catcher in the future.

・Neo (Outfielder, Second Baseman)
If Kyoda hadn't been there, we would have wanted to develop him as a shortstop.
However, he is currently using his strong arm, honed as a former pitcher, to practice in the outfield and explore his path to the first team.
I haven't heard many bad things about his outfield defense, so I think he's probably a decent fielder.
He also played second base during the preseason games.
Right now, I think it's time to impress with my batting.
He's definitely improved compared to last year, and it looks like he's consistently getting hits in the minor leagues.
I don't think it's time to rush him into the first team yet.

・Takashi Ishikawa (3)
He's a highly touted rookie, the first overall pick in the draft.
He has an excellent reputation for his hitting, and his batting style, which combines softness and power, is very appealing.
Last year, Neo was racking up strikeouts even in the minor leagues, so compared to that, he's clearly different now.
His fielding skills were quite good, and his throws, thanks to his strong arm honed from his pitching experience, appeared very stable.
As long as Takahashi Shu is on the team, it might be difficult for him to secure a regular spot, but his batting is appealing and makes you want to give him a chance.

Okabayashi (outside)
He's a rookie who's focused solely on playing in the outfield.
Since his primary position was pitcher, his outfield defense is still a work in progress.He has good batting skills, and I hear he has a good reputation.
Indeed, judging from his timing, he has a sense of rhythm that is unusual for a rookie, so I hope he can make an impression with his batting in the future.

・Takamatsu (2)
His incredible speed is his greatest asset.
I thought he might come up as a pinch runner or something, but he hasn't made it to the first team yet.
Apparently, they have some issues with their defense, and Coach Araki is giving them constant guidance.
If he can make good use of his speed, I think his defense will improve as well.
I think that speed, if honed to its limits, could become something like Eichi's, so I'll be keeping an eye on him in the future.

・Marc (pitcher)
This is a developmental player whose registered name has been changed from Ishida.
His powerful straight pitches, made possible by his tall stature, are his greatest asset.
His pitching style is characterized by a very unusual step, and his arm comes in slightly late, making it difficult to time his throws.
Also, as you step forward with your left foot, you slide your pivot foot diagonally forward to the right, so your hands come out from the inside more than you would expect for a right-handed batter, and you might feel like you're pulling your body back.
It's difficult to understand how he throws without watching the video in slow motion, so he could be described as an unconventional power pitcher.
So far this season, his control has been stable, but given his somewhat unstable pitching form, it will be crucial for him to avoid losing his rhythm.
He doesn't seem likely to be registered as a regular player this year, but he's a player whose performance in the minor leagues I'll be keeping an eye on.

In conclusion

This year's season will start later than usual, and it's unclear when the postseason will begin.
Given its connection to the Olympics, the schedule is quite unusual, and I imagine it presents some challenges for the athletes.
For now, practice games have been scheduled until the season starts, but it's unclear how each team will approach them.
Whether they view this as an extension of the exhibition games or as a serious prelude to the season, their approach will be something to watch.

Summary of articles related to the Chunichi Dragons