Today, October 26, 2017, the professional baseball draft was held.
As a fan, I'll be discussing various aspects of the players acquired by the Chunichi Dragons, including how the competition for positions will unfold.
Chunichi Dragons' 2018 Draft Picks and Evaluations
A review and reflection on "Predictions for the Chunichi Dragons' key players in 2018"
Hiroshi Suzuki (Pitcher, Right-handed thrower)
He's a pitcher whose fastest pitch is 157 km/h.
His speed is appealing, but his high walk rate makes me worried about his consistency.
The pattern of trying to improve control while sacrificing velocity is something that has happened frequently in the Chunichi Dragons' history, so that's a cause for concern.
In terms of type, perhaps he's similar to Kenta Nakata or Yuichi Fukutani?
However, he is only 20 years old, and considering his raw talent, his fastball speed is a remarkable ability, so I think he has incredible talent.
I'd like him to be nurtured carefully, but I also really want to see him play in the first team soon.
Sho Ishikawa (Pitcher, Right-handed/Left-handed)
He's a high school graduate pitcher.
His appeal lies in his fastball, which reaches a top speed of 151 km/h, and his pitching form, which even Masahiro Yamamoto has praised as highly refined.
Having a highly refined form means there are fewer things to adjust, which I think allows you to dedicate more time to building your physique.
He was also listed as a potential first-round pick, so in terms of expectations, he's no less promising than Suzuki, who was ranked first overall.
Since the Chunichi Dragons have few reliable right-handed pitchers, he might make his first-team debut surprisingly soon.
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Takamatsu Wataru (Infielder, Right-handed/Left-handed)
This player's most impressive feature is his incredible speed, reaching first base in a mere 3.53 seconds.
Even Ichiro Suzuki's time was apparently 3.9 seconds, which really highlights how incredible this is.
He's a player who fits well with manager Mori's style of baseball, which emphasizes "running baseball."
His speed means he could be used at the first-team level right away, so it's possible he could make the team roster early on.
I suppose he'll need to spend some time in the minor leagues to get in shape before returning to the team.
Being fast is an advantage that can be utilized in various aspects of the game, such as defensive range, infield hits, and stolen bases.
I hope you'll take care not to get injured and participate in the competition for a spot in either the infield or outfield.
Personally, this is what I'm most interested in.
Tatsuya Shimizu (pitcher, right and left)
His appeal lies in his fastball, which reaches a maximum speed of 150 km/h, and his sharp forkball.
He was also selected for the Samurai Japan U-18 team and has extensive experience as a closer,He's an attractive pitcher with potential as a setup man or closer.
Compared to sliders and curves, a good forkball is more likely to be effective even at the professional level, so if you can control it well, I think you can achieve a high strikeout rate.
However, since he is still a young, promising player, I hope they will explore various possibilities, including him being a starter.
Kosuke Ito (Outfielder/Second Baseman, Right-handed thrower)
Despite being only 173cm tall, this player's appeal lies in his powerful swing and his impressive speed, running 50 meters in 5.8 seconds.
Even though he's not particularly large, he has the skill to hit the ball into the stands, as demonstrated in his game against Koryo at Koshien Stadium.
He seems to be a middle-distance hitter who can hit home runs with his hitting ability.
High school graduates playing as outfielders are a rare sight for the Chunichi Dragons these days, so that alone makes him a player whose future growth is something to look forward to.
I hope he becomes a player who can swing the bat with full force, like Iryo, rather than relying solely on his speed and just making contact with the ball.
Takumi Yamamoto (Pitcher, Right-handed thrower)
Despite his small stature, he's a player with excellent control, two types of sliders, and impressive stamina.
Although he's relatively short at 167cm, if he's the type of pitcher who relies more on low-pitched control than speed, I don't think that will be much of a problem.
Generally speaking, smaller players experience less strain on their knees and other joints, so I hope they can become pitchers who can play for a long time without getting injured.
He gives me the impression of being similar to former Nippon Ham Fighters player Tanimoto.
Akito Ozo (pitcher, right and left)
He's a player with impressive height, and was the first pick in the developmental draft.
While his fastest fastball is in the 140 km/h range, his excellent control is his greatest asset.
He's reportedly improved his pitching speed since joining the independent league, so there's definitely room for growth.
The Shikoku Island League is a professional league where breakout players like Matayoshi and Kamezawa played, so we can expect great things from them.
Kento Ishida Marc (Pitcher, Right-handed thrower)
He's a promising pitcher, drafted in the second round of the developmental draft, with an impressive fastball that reaches nearly 150 km/h.
They say he's still rough around the edges, but since they went to the trouble of acquiring him, he must have something special about him.
His control is still somewhat inconsistent, so we want to raise it to the level of a professional first-team player.
I hope he doesn't end up following the "Chunichi curve" that many Chunichi pitchers have gone through, where their control is terrible and their fastball velocity only reaches around 140 km/h.
Overall review
Although they missed out on Shosei Nakamura, being able to draft two top-tier players like Suzuki and Ishikawa is quite an achievement.
Furthermore, this year's draft, excluding developmental players, consisted almost entirely of players who were 17 or 18 years old.
This can be seen as a significant departure from the recent strategy of drafting players who are ready to contribute immediately (from outside the company).
Whether someone is a high school graduate, a university graduate, or already working, whether they can succeed professionally is something you can only find out by actually playing.
Some players are ready to contribute immediately but may not be able to make an impact right away, while others are raw talent who can make an immediate impact.
In that sense, I don't think it's a bad thing at all that they've drafted so many extremely young players.
This is a pleasant surprise, as some players might make it to the first team soon...
Furthermore, the fact that they have selected two speedy players who can embody the "baseball that utilizes speed" that the manager talks about shows that the people on the field and those involved in team building are in sync.
This was a highly satisfying draft, as it effectively addressed the team's weaknesses, namely a lack of right-handed starting pitchers and a shortage of young position players.
