Japan’s Professional Team Drafted A Softball Player
At the Japan professional baseball entry draft by 12 clubs on October 27 in Tokyo, Nippon Ham Fighters selected a softball catcher of Waseda University, Takumi Oshima.
Oshima played baseball in primary school but played only softball for 10 years after middle school. He released comment through Waseda University that “I have been aiming to play baseball professionally after finishing college. This is a big challenge not only for me personally but for the sport of softball.” Yamada, General Manager of Fighters who recognized Oshima’s talent at a club’s trial session, said that “He is well built and has a strong arm. His determination to succeed in baseball was so strong as to convince us that he will make it by training. This is not a public relations ploy.”
Under the Japanese draft system, teams declare which player they want for the first pick. From the second round onward, the 12 teams take turns. Many players that have played for the National University or High School teams.
The Chiba Lotte Marines won the rights to negotiate with highly-touted pitcher Takahiro Fujioka of Toyo University・
Tokai University fireballer Tomoyuki Sugano was expected to be drafted by the Yomiuri Giants without competition.　But the Nippon-Ham Fighters ended up with the rights to talk with Sugano, who is a nephew of Giants manager Tatsunori Hara.
The disappointed Giants earned the negotiation rights for 193-centimeter-tall southpaw Ryuya Matsumoto of Eimei High School
The Hiroshima Carp secured the negotiating rights for Meiji University right-hander Yusuke Nomura, who became the seventh pitcher to post 30 wins and 300 strikeouts in the Tokyo Big 6 Baseball League.
The Hanshin Tigers named Keio University slugger Hayata Ito in the first round.
The Central League winner Dragons that won the rights to negotiate with Tokai University Kofu High School slugger Shuhei Takahashi who hit 71 home runs during his high school career.
The BayStars won the rights to talk to Karatsu Shogyo High School hurler Yujo Kitagata.
The Eagles chose JR Hokkaido pitcher Yoshitaka Muto, and the Swallows picked Kosei Gakuen High School outfielder Ryuhei Kawakami.
The Pacific League champion Softbank Hawks earned the rights to negotiate with right-hander Shota Takeda of Miyazaki Nihon University High School without competition, while the Seibu Lions selected JR East pitcher Ken Togame.
Orix won the rights to negotiate with Toshiba infielder Ryoichi Adachi.
