[liveblog stuff moved to underneath draft chart stuff -- Draft chart is 99.9% finished as of 6pm California time on the 25th. I just don't have birthdays for Hawks ikusei players because their website is useless.]
Name Pos HS/Univ/Company T/B DOB Ht/Wt -------------------- --- --------------- --- ---------- ------- Eaglesx Kyota Fujiwara1 Ryosuke Tatsumi OF Ritsumeikan Univ R/L 12/27/1996 180/72 2 Hikaru Ohta C Osaka Shogyo Univ R/R 10/14/1996 177/75 3 Shuichiro Hikiji P Kurashiki Shogyo HS R/R 06/03/2000 188/84 4 Hayato Yuge P Subaru L/L 04/06/1994 193/105 5 Tomoki Satoh P Yamagata Chuo HS L/L 06/05/2000 184/82 6 Yoshiaki Watanabe IF Meiji Univ R/L 01/08/1997 180/79 7 Yuya Ogoh OF Rissho Univ R/L 08/03/1996 178/85 8 Sora Suzuki P Fuji Univ L/L 08/19/1996 184/77 i1 Kotaro Seimiya P Yachiyo Shoin HS R/L 05/26/2000 190/85 i2 Yoshiki Norimoto P Yamagishi Logisters R/L 05/14/1994 174/76 (lol at this kid whose name LOOKS like "Kotaro Kiyomiya" but is actually Seimiya) Tigersx Kyota Fujiwara x Ryosuke Tatsumi1 Koji Chikamoto OF Osaka Gas L/L 11/09/1994 170/72 2 Ryuhei Obata IF Nobeoka Gakuen HS R/L 09/21/2000 181/73 3 Seiya Kinami IF Honda R/L 06/15/1994 178/80 4 Yukiya Saitoh P Honda R/L 01/05/1995 184/90 5 Riku Kawahara P Souseikan HS L/L 12/12/2000 184/80 6 Atsuki Yuasa P BCL Toyama Thunderbirds R/R 07/17/1999 183/88 i1 Yuya Katayama C Fukui Miracle Elephants R/L 06/18/1994 177/83 Marines 1 Kyota Fujiwara OF Osaka Toin HS L/L 05/06/2000 181/78 2 Yusuke Azuma P Nittai Univ R/R 04/04/1996 172/80 3 Kazuya Ojima P Waseda Univ L/L 07/07/1996 177/81 4 Koki Yamaguchi OF Meioh HS R/R 08/18/2000 182/85 5 Toshiya Nakamura P Asia Univ L/L 07/08/1996 177/86 6 Takuro Furuya P Narashino HS R/R 04/21/2000 182/76 7 Shin Matsuda IF Honda R/R 08/29/1994 188/95 8 Hideto Doi P Matsuyama Seiryo HS R/R 04/02/2000 191/84 i1 Mizuki Kamata P Tokushima Indigo Socks R/R 09/06/1995 180/91 Dragons 1 Akira Neo P Osaka Toin HS R/L 04/19/2000 177/80 2 Kodai Umetsu P Toyo Univ R/R 10/24/1996 187/90 3 Akiyoshi Katsuno P Mitsubishi Juko Nagoya R/R 06/12/1997 183/89 4 Kota Ishibashi C Kanto Daiichi HS R/R 12/07/2000 180/87 5 Kenshin Kakikoshi P Yamanashi Gakuin HS L/L 04/03/2000 184/96 6 Kaname Takino OF Osaka Shogyo Univ R/L 07/08/1996 185/76 BuffaloesKaito Kozono1 Ryo Ohta IF Tenri HS R/R 02/14/2001 181/76 2 Yuma Tongu C Asia Univ R/R 11/17/1996 181/97 3 Yudai Aranishi P Honda Kumamoto R/R 08/25/1992 178/83 4 Ryoga Tomiyama P Toyota L/L 05/03/1997 178/82 5 Sho Gibo P KBC Mirai Okinawa HS R/L 11/26/2000 174/67 6 Yu Hidarisawa P JX-ENEOS L/L 12/28/1994 171/76 7 Keita Nakagawa IF Toyo Univ R/R 04/12/1996 180/75 i1 Taisei Urushihara P Niigata Iryo Fukushi U R/L 09/10/1996 182/83 (Tongu was a catcher at Asia-dai but the Buffaloes are listing him as IF for some reason) (Aranishi is listed with an 8/25 birthday everywhere EXCEPT the Buffaloes site) BaystarsKaito Kozono1 Taiga Kamichatani P Toyo Univ R/R 08/31/1996 181/83 2 Yukiya Itoh IF Rissho Univ R/R 08/30/1996 182/95 3 Shinichi Ohnuki P Sumitomo Metal Kashima R/R 02/03/1994 181/75 4 Atsushi Katsumata P Nichidai Tsurugaoka HS R/L 05/22/2000 180/80 5 Kyosuke Mashiko C Seirantaito HS R/R 12/27/2000 176/90 6 Naoto Chino IF BCL Niigata Albirex R/R 02/16/1999 181/81 i1 Daita Miyagi P Shiga Gakuen HS R/R 07/15/2000 181/73 Fightersx Akira Neo1 Kosei Yoshida P Kannano HS R/R 01/12/2001 175/84 2 Yuki Nomura IF Hanasaki Tokuharu HS R/R 06/26/2000 185/90 3 Tsubasa Nabatame P Nippon Tsuun R/R 02/19/1995 176/86 4 Chusei Mannami OF Yokohama HS R/R 04/07/2000 190/90 5 Ren Kakigi P Osaka Toin HS R/R 06/25/2000 181/88 6 Yua Tamiya C Narita HS R/L 06/13/2000 174/77 7 Suguru Fukuda P Seisa Dohto Univ L/L 12/14/1996 170/75 i1 Kazuyoshi Ebihara OF BCL Toyama Thunderbirds R/L 09/13/1995 188/92 Giantsx Akira Neo x Ryosuke Tatsumi1 Yuki Takahashi P Hachinohe Gakuin Univ L/L 02/01/1997 178/82 2 Riku Masuda IF Meishu Hitachi HS R/R 06/17/2000 178/80 3 Daisuke Naoe P Matsusho Gakuen HS R/R 06/20/2000 184/77 4 Kai Yokogawa P Osaka Toin HS L/L 08/30/2000 190/90 5 Yoshiya Matsui IF Orio Aishin HS R/L 06/18/2000 191/90 6 Shosei Togoh P Seishin Ursula HS R/R 04/04/2000 184/70 i1 Kota Yamashita OF Kendai Takasaki HS R/L 11/15/2000 176/80 i2 Kaisei Hirai P Gifu Daiichi HS R/R 09/12/2000 184/73 i3 Shohei Numata P Asahikawadai HS R/R 06/24/2000 175/64 i4 Hibiki Kuroda IF Tsuruga Kehi HS R/R 07/21/2000 184/75 Hawksx Kaito Kozono x Ryosuke Tatsumi1 Hiroshi Kaino P Toyo Univ R/R 11/16/1996 185/83 2 Kazuki Sugiyama P Mitsubishi Hiroshima R/R 12/07/1997 192/86 3 Daiju Nomura IF Waseda Jitsugyo HS R/R 09/10/2000 172/82 4 Yugo Bandoh P JR East R/R 12/27/1995 181/76 5 Shun Mizutani OF Iwami Chisuikan HS R/R 03/09/2001 192/94 6 Keisuke Izumi P Kanazawa Seiryo Univ R/R 03/02/1997 187/82 7 Masato Okumura P Mitsubishi Pwr Systems R/R 08/14/1992 177/80 i1 Riku Watanabe C Kamimura Gakuen HS R/L 185/80 i2 Naoya Okamoto P Nodai Okhotsk Univ L/L 180/72 i3 Tomoaki Shigeta P Kokushikan Univ R/R 185/77 i4 Takamasa Nakamura OF Nishinihon Tankidai HS R/R 183/87 Swallowsx Akira Neo x Taiga Kamichatani1 Noboru Shimizu P Kokugakuin Univ R/L 10/15/1996 180/84 2 Shota Nakayama IF Hosei Univ R/R 09/22/1996 185/95 3 Yuta Ichikawa P Meitoku Gijuku R/R 03/29/2001 185/75 4 Taiki Hamada OF Meiho HS R/R 09/04/2000 178/80 5 Koshiro Sakamoto P Sumikin Hirohata L/L 09/09/1994 180/70 6 Yuta Suzuki P Nihon Bunri HS R/R 08/02/2000 182/87 7 Takuma Kubo P Kyushu Kyoritsu Univ L/L 07/27/1996 175/75 8 Taisei Yoshida IF Meiji Yasuda Seimei R/L 03/07/1995 174/78 i1 Taishi Uchiyama C Tochigi Golden Braves R/R 04/21/1996 172/77 i2 Yu Matsumoto IF Fukui Miracle Elephants R/L 02/05/1995 180/82 Lions 1 Wataru Matsumoto P Nittai Univ R/R 11/28/1996 176/83 2 Yutaro Watanabe P Urawa Gakuin HS R/R 09/21/2000 190/90 3 Kakeru Yamanobe IF Mitsubishi Okazaki R/R 05/24/1994 170/72 4 Kaito Awatsu P East Japan Int'l Univ R/R 03/01/1997 180/80 5 Shoya Makino C Yugakkan HS R/L 03/04/2001 178/77 6 Ryosuke Moriwaki P Sega Sammy R/R 07/13/1992 175/70 7 Ryusei Satoh IF Fuji Univ R/R 01/15/1997 173/81 i1 Aoi Tohno P Nihon Keizai Univ L/L 11/30/1996 183/75 i2 Jiyu Ohkubo P Hokkai HS R/R 08/02/2000 198/88 i3 Daichi Nakaguma C Tokuyama Univ R/L 08/27/1996 176/84 Carp 1 Kaito Kozono IF Hotoku Gakuen HS R/L 06/07/2000 178/79 2 Sotaro Shimauchi P Kyushu Kyoritsu Univ R/R 10/14/1996 180/76 3 Kota Hayashi IF Chiben Wakayama HS R/L 11/16/2000 181/87 4 Takuto Nakagami IF Gifu Shogyo HS R/R 05/29/2000 175/85 5 Norihiko Tanaka P Komono HS R/R 10/19/2000 173/80 6 Yuya Shozui OF Asia Univ R/R 08/31/1996 181/90 7 Ryutaro Hatsuki IF Kamimura Gakuen HS R/L 04/19/2000 167/70 i1 Minoru Ohmori OF Shizuoka Sangyo Univ R/L 08/31/1996 179/70
This year's draft is on Thursday the 25th in Japan at 5pm; which means Thursday morning at 1am here in California.
I've got my usual set of draft magazines, a whole ton of industrial league info, various high school stuff, and yet I still have no idea what will happen on draft day. This year I don't actually have all that many favorites in the draft, believe it or not -- I mean, there's the usual assortment of college guys I've been watching for a while (I expect Yoshiaki Watanabe from Meiji and Shota Nakayama from Hosei and Kazuya Ojima from Waseda to get drafted anyway, as well as the Toyodai Trio (Umetsu, Kamichatani, and Kaino, all pitchers) and I know a lot of my friends are huge fans of Wataru Matsumoto from Nittaidai. But unlike most years, I don't think I have anyone in this draft who I know all that well personally (infact the only one I've met is Nakayama). This is probably partially because I've dedicated more of my time to the Fighters when I'm over in Japan, and partially because it rained a LOT this year when I was visiting, and partially because I shifted over to cheering for Todai more in the last few years :)
Also I apologize that this is literally the first post I've made in a year; if you've followed me for a while you know that I do still tweet a lot when I'm in Japan. I started writing a post about Fighters spring training this year but it was very frustrating and I ended up never posting it. Sorry!
HEY! Guess what, the Sports Bull stream actually seems to be working in the US! And I've even got it on my Pixel so I can use my laptop for typing in names/info!
Otherwise I'll still be watching the picks come in on various news sources such as Nikkan Sports as usual.
1am: And it's starting! Wheee! (I am such a Todai fangirl that I was almost more excited to see Endoh-san walking in behind Kida-san and the main posse.)
1:15am: I take it back. Sportsbull works but it keeps randomly coming with ads in the middle of everything. Well, we're getting underway with the first round...
Rakuten: Kyota Fujiwara, OF, Osaka Toin HS
Hanshin: Fujiwara
Marines: Fujiwara
Dragons: Akira Neo, IF, Osaka Toin HS
Orix: Kaito Kozono, IF, Hotoku Gakuen HS
Baystars: Kozono
Fighters: Neo
Giants: Neo
Hawks: Kozono
Swallows: Neo
Lions: Wataru Matsumoto, RHP, Nittai Univ
Carp: Kozono
WOW that is even more of a cluster than most years. 4, 4, 3, and the Seibu Lions just get Wataru Matsumoto uncontested (DAAAAAAAAAANG).
1:20am: First runoff is for Fujiwara, and he goes to the Chiba Lotte Marines! Whee.
1:23am: Next runoff is for Neo, and he goes to Chunichi. I don't actually know how I feel right now -- I almost expected Kida to pick him at this point, believe it or not...
1:27am: Next runoff for Kozono, and he goes to Hiroshima. Well, okay then.
Now people get to choose their second first round, and I start entering stuff into my chart.
Rakuten: Ryosuke Tatsumi, OF, Ritsumeikan Univ
Hanshin: Tatsumi
Orix: Ryo Ohta, IF, Tenri HS
Baystars: Taiga Kamichatani, RHP, Toyo Univ
Fighters: Kosei Yoshida, RHP Kannano HS
Giants: Tatsumi
Hawks: Tatsumi
Swallows: Kamichatani
1:35am: And now lottery for Tatsumi... and he goes to Rakuten!
1:38am: Lottery for Kamichatani, and... he goes to Yokohama. Huh...
And now we are on to the THIRD FIRST ROUND!!
Hanshin: Koji Chikamoto, OF, Osaka Gas
Giants: Yuki Takahashi, LHP, Hachinohe Univ
Hawks: Hiroshi Kaino, RHP Toyo Univ
Yakult: Noboru Shimizu, RHP Kokugakuin Univ
And that's that. Going to take a little break to tabulate this all at 1:44am now.
Oh, wait. So. ACTUAL FIRST ROUND IN FULL:
Rakuten: Ryosuke Tatsumi, OF, Ritsumeikan Univ
Hanshin: Koji Chikamoto, OF, Osaka Gas
Marines: Kyota Fujiwara, OF, Osaka Toin HS
Dragons: Akira Neo, IF, Osaka Toin HS
Orix: Ryo Ohta, IF, Tenri HS
Baystars: Taiga Kamichatani, RHP, Toyo Univ
Fighters: Kosei Yoshida, RHP Kannano HS
Giants: Yuki Takahashi, LHP, Hachinohe Gakuin Univ
Hawks: Hiroshi Kaino, RHP Toyo Univ
Yakult: Noboru Shimizu, RHP Kokugakuin Univ
Lions: Wataru Matsumoto, RHP, Nittai Univ
Carp: Kaito Kozono, IF, Hotoku Gakuen HS
I'm probly going heads-down into the grid from now on...
btw just a note: the FIGHTERS ARE ACTUALLY PARTICIPATING IN THE IKUSEI DRAFT THIS IS A HISTORIC FIRST WE HAVE NEVER DONE THIS BEFORE.
Another funny thing: at the end of the 8th round they were like "Okay, all the teams are finished choosing... wait, our bad, sorry, Rakuten isn't finished. Rakuten?" and Rakuten was like "We're finished choosing."
I don't have a ton of commentary other than to say at least the 6 players I named as "will get picked" all got picked. I guess that's not too difficult though. Surprised that Watanabe went as late as he did, to be honest.
Actually that's a lie. As I've been entering these I noticed that there are a LOT more position players than pitchers, or at least, way more than I would expect normally in the draft. Also it felt like for a while there was a lack of lefties, and that we have a surprising number of kids at the far ends of the age spectrum, ie, a lot of March and April birthdays.
It's 4:44am right now and I've just finished the main chart (aside from a few birthdays I couldn't dig up). I'm going to briefly peer at Ikusei and see how many there are and I might put that off until the morning, so if this post doesn't have ikusei yet, that's why.